Gurgaon church site vandalised after mahapanchayat: CCTV, cables gutted, DVR snatched; police promise security | Gurgaon News

GURGAON: Two days after a mahapanchayat was held opposing the construction of a church, a registered religious charitable society alleged that miscreants vandalised its construction site in Teekli village of Sector 56 on Sunday night, damaging CCTV cameras and electrical fittings and snatching surveillance equipment from caretakers.Members of Delhi Bible Fellowship alleged that around 10pm, a group of men arrived at the site and banged repeatedly on the main gate with iron rods and pipes.

“At least 4 persons jumped past the main gate, entered the construction premises and started damaging CCTV cameras fixed on a pole. They broke all electrical light fittings, causing a short circuit that led to a fire in the cables,” the society’s complaint said.It further alleged that the intruders threatened two caretakers at the site and took away the DVR of the CCTV unit and a Wi-Fi router from their makeshift hut.“They entered the hut of the caretakers and threatened them with dire consequences if construction continued. The attackers had covered their faces with cloth. They broke the DVR unit linked to CCTV cameras and the Wi-Fi router installed in the room of the caretakers. They took away both with them to ensure their identities were not revealed,” the complaint said. When a TOI team visited the construction site on Monday, it found electrical fittings broken and a CCTV camera lying on the ground. The team also questioned the Badshapur ACP, who had visited the site along with his team, about the attack. The officer, however, declined to comment. This was not the society’s first complaint. On Dec 24, it alleged that a few villagers came to the construction site and threatened workers present there against continuing work. A Mahapanchayat, the society alleged, was organised in the village two days later, where strong objections were raised against the construction of the church.“Hate speeches were delivered at the panchayat on Dec 26,” the complaint said.Police said they were verifying the details and trying to identify those involved in the attack on Sunday. “Our team inspected the site and collected evidence, along with photographs of the vandalised property. We also recorded the statements of the caretakers. Further investigation is underway,” an official said.Another police official said talks were held between both parties on Monday evening. “We called both parties to mediate and sort the issue out through talks. However, we are yet to register an FIR. We have, meanwhile, assured the church society that they can continue with the construction work. Police personnel will be stationed on the premises to provide protection.”According to the society, the church is coming up on 2 acres that were registered in its name on Nov 14, 2019. It said the change of land use was obtained last year in Dec, and the building plan was approved by GMDA this July.