Church demolished in India despite alleged court stay

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Municipal authorities in western India have demolished a church during an overnight operation, with Christian worshippers alleging the action was carried out despite a court stay and just hours before a scheduled hearing over the fate of the structure.

The church in the Tapkir Mala area of Pimpri-Chinchwad, near Mumbai in Maharashtra state, was demolished early Monday as excavators and a large police contingent were deployed to the site.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation said the operation targeted unauthorized construction in the Rajwade Nagar area of Kalewadi and that structures covering about 7,400 square feet were demolished.

The civic body’s statement, however, did not address church members’ claims that a court stay was in force or that a hearing was scheduled later that day.  

Church members said they received information around midnight that authorities were preparing to demolish the building, prompting some 20 to 25 worshippers to gather inside and pray.

Rose, who said she has worshipped at the church for about a decade, said members told officials that they had secured a stay against demolition and were prepared to comply with whatever decision the court made at the scheduled hearing.

She alleged that officials instead entered the premises, pushed worshippers away and proceeded with the demolition.

“We had a stay order. The hearing was on Monday. Whatever the court says, we will cooperate,” she said.

Church members also alleged that they received no prior notice and were prevented from photographing or filming the operation. Rose claimed worshippers were threatened with having their phones confiscated or damaged if they attempted to record what was happening.

Another member, Sam, said excavators, powerful lights and a large police contingent arrived at about 3 a.m. Worshippers attempted to remove belongings from the church but were unable to retrieve everything before the structure was brought down, he said.

Members said fans and other equipment were destroyed during the operation. They said the temporary church had been built through small contributions from worshippers, many of whom come from low-income families.

The central dispute now extends beyond the municipality’s allegation of unauthorized construction to whether authorities were legally entitled to demolish the church before the court could hear the case.

The demolition comes amid growing concern among Indian Christian organizations over attacks and administrative action affecting churches and prayer gatherings in several parts of the country.

Christian groups have repeatedly raised concerns about disruption of worship, accusations of religious conversion and pressure on small congregations, particularly those meeting in houses or temporary places of worship.

Municipal authorities have maintained that the Pimpri-Chinchwad operation was an enforcement action against unauthorized structures.