Punjab: Four Masked Men Vandalise Church In Tarn Taran, Heavy Police Deployed In Area

The four masked youth who entered the church had a pistol with them with which they threatened the watchman.

Church in Tarn Taran vandalised

A church in a village close to the Indo-Pak border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district was allegedly vandalised by four masked men on Wednesday, August 31, said police as reported by news agency PTI. The incident took place in Takkarpura village of Patti town on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, the report said.

The four masked youth who entered the church, had a pistol with them with which they threatened the watchman and tied up his hand before vandalising the church. They also broke an idol and burnt the pastor's car before leaving, the police said.

After being informed about the incident, a police team led by Senior Superintendent of Police, Tarn Taran, Ranjit Singh Dhillon reached the spot to determine the situation.

"4 people came to our campus & destroyed statues & set ablaze our vehicle. They were here for 25 mins. They threatened people & kept security guard at gunpoint. IG reached the spot & assured us of action at the earliest, said Father Thomas P Catholic Church, Patti, reported ANI.

Tarn Taran, Punjab | 4 people came to our campus & destroyed statues & set ablaze our vehicle. They were here for 25 mins. They threatened people & kept security guard at gunpoint. IG reached the spot & assured us of action at the earliest: Father Thomas P, Catholic Church, Patti pic.twitter.com/L8V8irDP7i

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2022

A group of Christians on Wednesday held a protest against the incident and blocked all routes leading to Khemkaran, Bhikhiwind, Patti, Harike and Ferozepur.

The protesters demanded police to make immediate arrest in the case.

The incident took place two days after a group of nihangs disrupted an event organised by Christian missionaries at Daduana village in Punjab’s Amritsar district. An FIR was filed in the case against nihang leader Baba Major Singh and nearly 150 of his supporters under various sections of the Indian Penal Code at Jandiala Guru police station on Monday

(With inputs from agencies)