Updated
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 21: A 29-year-old individual named Tom Mathew, a resident of Lingarajapuram, has been apprehended in relation to the vandalism incident that occurred at St Pius X Church in Kammanahalli, Bengaluru, in the early hours of Wednesday.
The suspect, allegedly armed with a hammer and crowbar, forcefully entered the church premises and caused extensive damage to the main door. He proceeded to ransack the altar and engage in acts of desecration, leaving a trail of destruction behind.
The pulpit of the church also suffered significant damage, with candle stands and flower vases scattered throughout the premises.
In response to the situation, the local police, under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Division) Bimashanker Guled, acted swiftly.
Tom Mathew, a 29-year-old resident of Lingarajapuram, was apprehended by the police and found to be in possession of the aforementioned weapons.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed, initiating the legal process.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused may be mentally disturbed and was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of his arrest. It has also come to light that he is facing serious family issues. The police force is actively investigating the incident to gather further information and ascertain any additional factors that may have contributed to this unfortunate event.
The St Pius X Church community is deeply saddened by the act of vandalism and desecration that took place within their sacred space. They express gratitude to the local law enforcement authorities for their prompt response and diligent efforts in apprehending the suspect.
Fr Jayakaran, the parish priest of St Pius X Church, requests the public to respect the privacy of the congregation during this challenging time. The community is coming together to restore the church to its former state and to heal from the emotional impact of this incident.
Earlier Report
St Pius Church in Kammanahalli vandalized, miscreant nabbed
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 21: In the first attack against the Christians after the Congress government assumed power under Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister and D K Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister, the St Pius Church in Kammanahalli in the city was vandalized early in the morning on Wednesday.
The church is dedicated to Pope Pius 10, who has been canonized by the Vatican.
According to information, the miscreant who desecrated the church was later caught by the security guards of the Akshaya Hospital, which is near the church.
The miscreant was later handed over to the police.
The police are investigating.
It is learnt that the incident happened around 3.15 am.