{"id":155,"date":"2019-09-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-09-28T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.britishasianchristians.org\/full-previous-archive\/2019\/09\/29\/indian-church-demolished-by-local-council-within-month-of-opening\/"},"modified":"2023-04-30T05:24:54","modified_gmt":"2023-04-30T04:24:54","slug":"indian-church-demolished-by-local-council-within-month-of-opening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishasianchristians.org\/full-previous-archive\/indian-church-demolished-by-local-council-within-month-of-opening\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Church demolished by local council within month of opening"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an act of bureaucratic vandalism, a newly built church was demolished after just over a month of use. The local authority ordered the destruction due to a lack of planning permission despite the entire community having been built without any.<\/h2>\n

Pastor Newton Das, (35), began the purchase of a 600sq yard plot of land for a church in Sirsa, Haryana, in December 2017. After completing payments for
\nthe land amounting to 9 Lakh rupees (\u00a310,300) in August 2018, Pastor Newton began to develop the land. To save costs he hired local contractors at 3 Lakh
\nrupees (\u00a33,440) and drew on substantial help through congregational members who volunteered, eager to begin worship in a designated church building.<\/p>\n

The new church building became usable in August 2019 after the basic infrastructure including a main hall and washroom facility where built. Over 200 believers
\nattended ‘Church of Jesus Anointing’ at its launch on 7th August and new visitors began to attend the church. However, by the second week the church received
\na letter from the local municipal authority asking them to cease any use of the building because the appropriate planning permission had not been applied
\nfor.<\/p>\n

Unsure that the letter was genuine especially as the church had only just begun services, Pastor Newton contacted local neighbours to get a better understanding
\nof the contents. Local Hindu neighbours all said they had received a similar letter form the council, but no further action was taken or expected. On hearing
\nthis Pastor Newton decided not to do anything about the letter.<\/p>\n

A week later a further letter than arrived and Pastor Newton decided to obtain a solicitor. The latest letter did not express that any physical action
\nwould be taken by the local council so there was no rush to get things in place with a legal counsel. Only days later 31st August 2019 however Pastor Newton
\nwas shocked to the core when he was advised that a force of police, military officers and Municipal officials had turned up at the partly constructed church
\nand were demolishing the building. Though this was deeply upsetting especially as it had taken so long to pay for the land and to build the church Pastor
\nNewton stayed away from the demolition after being warned by church members that the agents involved in the demolition were being very aggressive.<\/p>\n

A JCB vehicle was brought to the church and was used to demolish the church boundary wall and building. The main hall and washroom facility were flattened,
\nand a water cooler and the church sound system were broken beyond repair.<\/p>\n