By Muslim Mirror
On Saturday, several crosses built above the graves at the cemetery connected to St. Michael’s Church in Mahim, Mumbai, were vandalised. The Catholic community is furious about the cemetery’s intentional desecration/defiling.
#BreakingNews
Over a dozen crosses and graves at St. Michael's Church, Mahim, #Mumbai found vandalised on 07/01/23.#AttackOnChristians pic.twitter.com/rQGsVGgu7V— Bobins Abraham Vayalil (@BobinsAbraham) January 7, 2023
According to the community, there has been an increase in the tendency of destroying Christian symbols, which is affecting the community’s religious beliefs.
Clyde Crasto, Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson, condemned the event and requested Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and the Mumbai Police to take “immediate cognisance” of the issue.
News of Graves and Crosses vandalized at the St. Michael's Church graveyard in Mahim, Mumbai is very disturbing.
This incident happening immediately after the temporary withdrawal of land acquisition notice to St.Peter's church, Bandra raises many doubts. (1/3)— Clyde Crasto – क्लाईड क्रास्टो (@Clyde_Crasto) January 7, 2023
“This act seems like a deliberate attempt to pressurize and disturb the peace loving Catholic community in Mumbai,” Crasto tweeted.
Another NCP leader, Vidya Chavan, “strongly” denounced the vandalism and destruction of crosses and graves and urged the Shinde administration to provide complete safety for all churches and cemeteries in Mumbai.
I strongly condemn the damaging and desecration of the crosses and graves at St. Michael's Church Mahim, Mumbai. I urge @CMOMaharashtra for full protection of all churches and graveyards across Mumbai.
I urge @MumbaiPolice to ensure that those responsible be arrested.. 1/2— Vidya Chavan (@Vidyaspeaks) January 7, 2023
The event comes on the heels of six further arrests in connection with the suspected vandalisation of a church and attack on police officers in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district earlier this week, bringing the total number of those arrested to 11.
On Monday, a protest against alleged religious conversion in the tribal-dominated area targeted a church on the grounds of a private school in Narayanpur city. Protesters also assaulted Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Sadanand Kumar and five police officers who were attempting to disperse the crowd.