ASIA/INDIA - Vandalizing acts against a Catholic church in Uttar Pradesh

Agra (Agenzia Fides) - A Catholic church in the city of Agra, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, has been the object of vandalizing acts. As reported to Fides, Fr. Eugene Lazarus, the pastor of the church of Santa Maria in Agra, heard the anti-theft alarm of his car, parked in the courtyard of the Church on the morning of April 16 .
When he arrived on the spot he saw the broken windows of the aisles, and saw some people who were fleeing.
"We shouted and the vandals escaped. With other priests we noted that the interior furniture of the church was damaged. Four statues of the Madonna were destroyed. Even the shrine of the statue of the Child Jesus was broken and placed in the hands of the statue of the Virgin. There was a dog leash on the neck of one of the statues of Mary. The attackers not only broke the statues and damaged the church, but they also hurt the sentiments of the Christian community", explained Fr. Lazarus, who has filed a complaint to the police for vandalism.
According to observers, there have been numerous incidents in Uttar Pradesh for months, which have affected Christian minorities and are generating a climate of fear and insecurity. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/04/2015)