NHRC issues notices to Home Ministry and Delhi govt

National Human Rights Commission today issued notices to the Home Ministry, Delhi Government and Delhi Police and sought reports from them in a matter of "arson" in a church in northeast Delhi here on December 1.
According to an official statement released today, the commissiom has issued notices to the Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary, Delhi Government, Commissioner of Police, Delhi and DCP, Northeast Delhi calling for reports in the matter within 10 days.
The notices were issued after the commission took cognizance of the complaints about an incident of arson in the Catholic Archdiocese of St Sebastian's Church in Dilshad Garden, East Delhi in the early hours of December 1.

Allegedly, the police turned up late at the site of incident and tried to hush up the matter.
"But only after strong public protests it started investigating the incident. Request for reasonable compensation had also not been considered by the government," the statement said.
Describing the incident as a violation of religious freedom guaranteed under the Constitution, the complainants have prayed for impartial investigation in the matter and compensation for the restoration work.
The Commission observed that any attempt to restrict or deny Right to Freedom of Religion is against the goals and ideals of the Constitution of India.
Destruction of a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any group is a cognizable offence under the Indian Penal Code.