Christian graves vandalised in Hyderabad

Christian graves vandalised in Hyderabad
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

Hyderabad, June 26: In an act of suspected vandalism, unidentified miscreants damaged four graves in a Christian cemetery at Sahebnagar on the city outskirts. Though the incident was reported to have occurred a fortnight back, it came to light only today when the Vanastalipuram Christian Graveyard Development Committee lodged a complaint with the local police.

The cross from a grave was completely plucked while crosses on two other graves were damaged. Miscreants removed the top slab of another grave and kept it aside.

The cemetery as well as Hindu and Muslim graveyards are located in a HUDA layout side by side. However, the demarcation was not done though the demand had been there since a decade.

According to sources, watchman Narsimha, spotted some youth consuming liquor in the graveyard a fortnight ago. After an argument, he forced them out. Next morning, he found the graves vandalised.

However, the committee did not take the issue seriously thinking it could be the act of the youths. After the Rajahmundry incident where four crosses were plucked out from a graveyard a couple of days ago, committee secretary K Joseph decided to lodge a complaint.

Rangareddy district superintendent of police N V Surendra Babu said a case has been booked and investigation was on. "It could be the act of the youths who were driven away by the watchman," he said.

The SP said an officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police was directed to probe the case. The graveyard was located in a far-flung area and there are houses within a radius of a kilometre. Inquiries by The Indian Express revealed that anti-social elements frequent the graveyard often.

Meanwhile, the Baptist Churches Association, All India Christian Council and Inter-Churches Council have condemned the incident and urged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to order a thorough probe into the attacks on places of worship belonging to minorities.