Some rightwing Hindu groups have threatened to close two churches of the archdiocese of Delhi that covers the national capital and parts of Haryana state.
The latest incident happened June 4 at St Joseph Vaz Catholic Mission Church, Kherki Daula in Gurugram (Gurgaon) district, Shashi Dharan, the archdiocesan public relations officer, told Matters India.
Just after the 10 am English service, a group of 20-25 people came to the church wearing saffron scarves and carrying tridents and swords on bikes and cars and threatened the priest and two Catholics who were talking to him. They gave the priest two weeks’ time to close the church.
They also said they will not allow the church in the village. They claimed they were from Hindu Sena (army).
Shashi Dharan said one person from the crowd slapped Father Amalraj, who later com-plained of a hearing problem.
The PRO said a five-member team led by vicar general Father Vincent D’Souza went to Kherki Daula in Gurugram district of Haryana after its parish priest Father Amalraj alerted the archbishop’s house about troubles from Hindu radicals.