AIZAWL:
Christian-dominated state of Mizoram had witnessed incidents of church vandalism, mostly carried out by ‘Satan worshippers’ or mentally deranged persons in the past, but the latest one was different in the sense that it was done by a minor.
The juvenile, caught for desecrating a church in Mizoram capital Aizawl city, was given full pardon by the local church committee of the United Pentecostal Church of Mizoram in Durtlang locality.
Sources in the local church said that the young boy, who was enrolled in the ‘Sunday School’ of the church, was nabbed after he vandalised the place of worship on September 22 evening.
“The boy threw out equipment used for the holy sacrament and also strewn books and other goods including the church decoration materials on the floors of the main church as well as inside the cupboard in the church gallery by breaking it open,” they said.
He also broke at least 18 window panes while upsetting a church drum, destroying a microphone and stole money from the relief fund donation box, which was broken.
A number of benches inside the church were also damaged by goods thrown down from the gallery.
The boy was seen while leaving the church and was later nabbed by some local people.
The local church committee, which met after the capture of the boy, decided to grant full pardon and not to approach the police about the incident.
Rather, the local church committee members tasked themselves to reform the youngster mentally and spiritually and held mass prayer after the discussion.