Uttar Pradesh: 93 people booked for vandalism, misconduct during protest against church construction

However, an official said that a prayer hall is being built in Kanpur’s Akbarpur area and not a church.

Jun 26, 2023 - 21:30

Uttar Pradesh: 93 people booked for vandalism, misconduct during protest against church construction

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday filed a first information report against 93 persons associated with several Hindutva groups after they staged a protest at an under-construction building in Kanpur’s Akbarpur area and vandalised the property, reported PTI.

The protestors claimed that a church was being built at the site without proper approval, reported The Indian Express. But an unidentified senior district administration told the newspaper that a prayer hall is being built along with a Christian school.

The protestors, however, accused the district administration of facilitating the construction of a church.

A video of the incident showed “Jai Shri Ram” written on the wall.

An under construction Church at Akbarpur in kanpur district of uttarpradesh attacked with the slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' and vandalized by memeber of hindu nationalist organisations Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu parishad. pic.twitter.com/3TDOtOpmD4— Gabbar (@Gabbar0099) June 24, 2023

The FIR said that the mob demolished a makeshift boundary, destroyed furniture and pulled down a newly-built wall, reported PTI.

Station House Officer Satish Kumar Singh said that the mob also misbehaved with officials, including a tehsildar, when they were trying to control the situation. The police said additional forces had to be called to ensure peace.

The accused – 13 named and 80 unidentified – have been booked under sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly...