Free Church claims threat from 'illegal occupants' Free Church claims threat from 'illegal occupants'

New Delhi: A letter written by a New Delhi-basd church has sparked a controversy. In the letter written to the Prime Minister, the President, the Delhi Chief Minister and the Delhi Police, Free Church, located on the Parliament Street here, has claimed a threat from "illegal occupants".

In the letter, the priest-in-charge of the church claimed that the "illegal occupants", who have been living in the area for years now, raised Hindutva slogans inside the premises.

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The church claims to have CCTV footage of incident and the same has been handed over to DCP Madhur Verma of the Delhi Police.

Times Now reports that following the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka last month, the Delhi Police asked the church authorities to take necessary precautions.

Following that advisory, the church closed the gate that used to open on the Jantar Mantar side. It is then that the problem started.

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The "illegal occupants" insisted on trying to enter from the main gate despite being asked to come from the back side.

In the letter, the church claimed that threatening dialogues were exchanged during this tussle and that they were living in fear.

In the letter, the church has demanded action against these occupants and also sought assurance of security from the police.

The church detailed in the letter that the threats were "abusive and physically threatening".

"We prohibited entry of their vehicle from the main gate of the campus. While several church members were present, the incumbents had no fear and attempted to break down the gate and incite violence within the church," the letter stated.

The Delhi Police, meanwhile, tried to play down the issue, saying the situation was not like the church has trying to portray.

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"The management of the church is having a dispute with residents who live inside the campus since more than 100 years. The church management tried to close the gate which is on Jantar Mantar side and residents were opposing it," said the police.