Police to investigate church blaze in Pune

(Nov. 30, 2011) An Indian Catholic bishop said on Wednesday, he hoped a promised investigation into Monday’s fire at a Protestant church in Pune would be thorough. The 150-year-old church in Pune - in the western state of Maharashtra was gutted by fire on Monday. Bishop Thomas Dabre of Pune said “I personally visited the heritage church which has been charred and completely gutted. The altar, copies of the Bibles, hymn books, pulpit, and pews have been destroyed,”he added. Police have already promised a detailed investigation and a forensic examination of the church premises but suggested a short circuit was to blame. Rev. Thomas Irvin, secretary of the church, said the fire broke out at around 8 am on Monday and within minutes it spread to the entire structure. It took five fire tenders and three water tankers to douse the fire, he said. The church was built by the Scottish Mission in 1860 and handed over to Swedish missionaries.