Mob attacks Catholic church in India amid tribal clashes, causes thousands in damages.
A religious cross is captured through some ornamental railings in the Fort Kochi area in the state of Kerala in South India. | Getty ImagesA mob of hundreds of villagers vandalized a Catholic church in the Chhattisgarh state of India on Monday as tensions continue to rise between the area’s indigenous people who follow an animist religion and Christians.
Villagers armed with wooden sticks and iron rods barged into Sacred Heart Church at Edka village on Jan. 2, in the southern region of Narayanpur district, according to the Catholic non-profit news agency Union of Catholic Asia News.
The mob broke the church’s windows and damaged the altar, crucifix, multiple pieces of furniture and statues. The villagers also vandalized a Marian grotto and a presbytery.
UCA News quotes parish priest Father Jomon Devasia to report that the total damages from the church attack are likely to cost roughly 250,000 Indian rupees ($3,016), which includes about 50,000 Indian rupees allegedly stolen by the mob.
“The mob destroyed everything, the church and the presbytery,” Devasia stated. CP.
