Verghese V Joseph –
Mumbai: A 22-year-old man was arrested on Sunday from Navi Mumbai for allegedly vandalising as many as 18 crosses in a cemetery attached to the famous Mahim church in Mumbai a day before, police said. The motive behind the act is being investigated, a police officer said.
After allegedly damaging the crosses in the cemetery of St Michael’s Church in suburban Mahim on Saturday morning, the accused sat in the church for some time.
The police tracked down the accused after analysing CCTV footage. He was produced before a local court and remanded in police custody. DCP (Zone V) Manoj Patil said, “We arrested Ansari from Kalamboli, involved in vandalising crosses at the cemetery. He works with his uncle who has a mattress shop in Navi Mumbai. So far there is no clarity on the reason behind his acts.”
The accused was identified as Dawood Ibrahim Yakub Ansari, a resident of Kalamboli, who works with his father making cushions and mattresses, etc. The police said after Ansari’s mother passed away he stopped believing in God. He hadn’t gone home for the past 4-5 days.
Sources at Mahim police station, where the FIR was registered, said Ansari appeared to be mentally unstable. The police have so far found no prior record in his name.
The accused who works in the shop of his uncle was traced to Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai by special teams through technical analysis. His picture had also gone viral on social media.
“Certain things have emerged during the investigation which cannot be shared as the case is related to a religions place,” the police officer said.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 153-A (promoting enmity between two groups), 295 (injuring or defiling places of worship), and criminal trespass. Further investigation is underway
The DCP said it was a serious offence and added that they are checking all angles, including the possibility of the accused working in conspiracy with someone else. He added that as per the video footage they found, the accused was at the church for some time after the desecration and did not immediately flee from the spot. The police are trying to find out why he went to Mahim and if any of his relatives reside there.
Soon after the incident on Saturday, an FIR was registered against unidentified persons at the Mahim police station based on a complaint filed by the church.
Several members of the Catholic community and political leaders condemned the incident earlier and urged quick action in the case. Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Clyde Crasto urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Mumbai police to take “immediate cognisance” of the issue.
The Archdiocese of Bombay had expressed regret at the vandalism of the cemetery. “It is regrettable and painful that the graves of Catholics were vandalised at the Church of St Michael, Mahim. The sentiments of the community are deeply hurt as this act is not only involve the destruction of religious objects, but also disrespect for the dead. The police are investigating the incident and we remain hopeful that the perpetrator of this vicious crime will be brought to task.”
“While the Church appreciates the support and assistance of various groups, we strictly do not wish to give this act a communal overtone. We trust the investigation of the police and are assured that those involved will be shortly arrested,” the statement added.