NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today summoned Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi in the wake of vandalisation of a prominent Christian school in South Delhi’s Vasant Vihar area 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 here.
“The Prime Minister told me to take strict action against the perpetrators of such attacks,” Bassi told PTI after meeting with Prime Minister.
HRD Minister Smriti Irani also visited the school.
Unidentified persons had allegedly vandalized the school in South Delhi’s Vasant Vihar in the wee hours even as police and school authorities claimed it to be a case of robbery.
Police said the office of the school principal was vandalized and wires of CCTV were cut. After the incident, the school was shut down this morning.
“We are investigating and have registered a case in this regard,” said a senior official.
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. .
“The school’s donation box which is at a distance from the church has been robbed. It is an incident of robbery and we suspect that it is an insider’s job who knew where the cameras were installed.
“It is not a case of desecration, as per our preliminary investigation,” Bassi told reporters.
School authorities also claimed it to be a case of robbery.
“When the maid came to open the school, administrative office and principal’s office were open. We found that six CCTVs were damaged and the principal’s office was found ransacked, all cupboards were ransacked and all papers were thrown away. Around Rs 12,000 cash is also missing,” Sister Lucy, school’s principal, said.
She also said that the cameras inside the corridor were destroyed but the cameras outside are intact and the police are investigating.
However, Father Dominic Emanuel, spokesperson of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, said that this is sixth such attack on a Christian institution.
“In the morning, the CCTVs were found destroyed and principal’s office ransacked. Some money is also missing but am not sure about the amount. We are very surprised that this is sixth such attack on a Christian institution. Why are our religious places and institutions being attacked,” he said.
Meanwhile, HRD minister Smriti Irani, who is an alumna of the same school, visited the campus around noon and met the school principal.
She, however, did not respond to queries from the battery of reporters outside the school premises. Later talking to reporters, Delhi Police Commissioner, BS Bassi said that the police is serious in investigating the cases which have occurred so far and efforts are on to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called me today at his office and expressed his great worry on the incident pertaining to Holy Child school. He enquired about the details of various incidents which have occurred in recent months,” he said.
“I told him about the details and also the efforts we have made about the security of the churches and he has directed me that Delhi police should do its utmost to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future. Whatever is required to investigate the existing cases and ensure enhanced security of churches should be done.
“He also wants me to involve the community in this effort and ensure that if there are any misgivings about these incidents, they are removed by telling everybody about the efforts made by the police and also about the cases which have been solved,” added Bassi.
Talking about the investigation carried out by police in the recent cases, he said, “We are very serious in investigating the cases which have occurred so far. All of you know an incident had occurred at Vikaspuri, in which we had arrested three persons very quickly. Those accused had committed that ghastly act after consuming liquor.”
“Similarly, one incident had occurred in Rohini in which the crib was burnt. Investigation indicated that it was due to short circuit. We have got reports from experts also, which also suggest the same.
“Regarding the Vasant Kunj incident, we have got some definite proof. Sooner or later we should be able to solve that. Even in this incident, we are working with great sense of responsibility and are sure that the case would be solved in quick time,” he said.
“The Prime Minister has expressed his great concern and he has directed whatever is required must be done for the safety and security of the churches in Delhi and we are again going to review our arrangements,” added Bassi.–PTI
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