The Hindu : New Delhi News : “Prayer hall attacked”

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Sunday, Oct 05, 2008
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New Delhi

“Prayer hall attacked”

Devesh K. Pandey

NEW DELHI: Some local residents allegedly targeted a Christian prayer hall at Peeragarhi Relief Camp in West Delhi about a fortnight ago alleging that efforts were being made to illegally extend its boundaries.

Ezik Maisih Mulik, who runs the prayer hall, lodged a complaint with the police alleging that the hall was being repaired when a large number of anti-social elements hurled stones and damaged the structure. He also named seven persons, including a local politician, in the complaint. He alleged that six people were injured in the incident.

However, the police said no violence had taken place and no one was injured as being claimed.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Delhi) Sharad Aggarwal said it was just a boundary dispute and there was no religious angle to it. “While repairing the hall, they were trying to extend it beyond the boundary wall from the front and the right side. The area residents objected to it and raised slogans outside the hall. While the prayer hall has been in existence for over a decade, no trouble because of it has been reported so far,” he said, adding that police protection had been provided to them.

The complainant has a video footage prepared by a TV news channel showing people shouting slogans outside the prayer hall.

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