Christian school vandalized in south Delhi

New Delhi: A Christian school was vandalized by a group of men in Vasant Vihar area of south Delhi early on Friday.

The police have identified the school as Holy Child Auxilium which has now been shut down and children sent home for the day.

According to the police two culprits were seen in the CCTV. Police have certain leads, sources said. They said 3 dogs and a guard were in the school for security in the night. However, the dogs did not bark and it has raised suspicion an insider job. 

Police say the principal’s office has been vandalized and Rs 12000 cash is missing.

Senior police officers have reached the school and forensic officials and crime teams are at the spot to lift evidence. Entry of the culprits is suspected from the back gate of school. 

An FIR has been registered at Vasant Vihar police station and a breakthrough is expected soon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi summoned Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi and directed him to come down hard against those involved in such attacks.

Expressing “deep concern and anguish” over the rising crime rate in the Capital, the Prime Minister asked the Police Commissioner to speedily investigate the recent incidents of vandalism and ensure that the guilty are brought to book.

Modi also spoke over telephone to Union Home Secretary L C Goyal and asked him to “pay special attention to the rising incidents of crime, and vandalism, and to work towards ensuring the safety and security of women in the Capital,” an official release said.

“The Prime Minister told me to take strict action against the perpetrators of such attacks,” Bassi said after meeting with Prime Minister.

HRD minister Smriti Irani visited the school. Irani, an alumnus of the institution, had earlier apprised Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh of the situation and requested him to look into the matter. She met with the faculty and reviewed the overall situation arising out of the incident with them as well as with area police officers before departing.

Meanwhile, Delhi CM-elect Arvind Kejriwal has strongly condemned the attack, saying that such acts would not be tolerated.

This is the sixth incident in three months on Christian establishments in the national capital. Police, however, claimed that it was a case of robbery as a donation box was missing. 

At least nine churches have been attacked from 2012-2014, according to data released by Delhi Police.