Catholic school vandalized in south Delhi

A Catholic school was vandalized by a group of men in early on Friday in the Delhi, India, sparking outrage among Christians who allege a series of such attacks is part of a "hate campaign" by right-wing groups. The Holy Child Auxilium School in Vasant Vihar area of south Delhi, run by the Salesian Sisters of Mary Help of Christians was shut down and children sent home for the day.   Sister Lucy John, principal of the school, said her office and the administration office had been broken into.  The miscreants also damaged closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) and opened and ransacked the cupboards in the offices. Among other things, Rs 12,000 in cash was missing, she said  This has been the sixth such attack on a Catholic institution since December in the Indian capital territory.  Citing CCTV footage, Delhi Police denied that it was a hate attack but only a theft.   Arvind Kejriwal who is to be sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister on Saturday, condemned the attack tweeting, “I strongly condemn the attack on Holy Child Auxilium school. These kind of acts will not be tolerated."  Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi summoned Police Commissioner of Delhi and asked him to speedily investigate the recent incidents of vandalism and ensure that the guilty are brought to book.  Modi also asked the Union Home Secretary LC Goyal 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.

The recent string of attacks began on Dec. 1 when St. Sebastian’s Church in East Delhi's Dilshad Garden was partly gutted.  A week later, micreants threw stones at Our Lady of Fatima Forane Church at Jasola in South Delhi and broke window panes during the evening Mass.  Later, a Christmas crib at the Church of Resurrection was found charred on Jan. 3.   In January, a church was vandalized in West Delhi's Vikaspuri area and on Feb. 2, St Alphonsa’s Church in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area was vandalized.