New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS): Around 2,000 Catholics Tuesday protested outside the Delhi Police headquarters and demanded a judicial probe, a day after a church was gutted here.

The protesters, who also demanded security in Delhi churches, were assured by police that their demands would be met.

Father Mathew Koyickal told IANS: "We want a judicial probe into the matter, and demand that security be given to every church, and the accused be arrested."

The protest which began at 10 a.m. lasted for two hours.

Special Commissioner of Police Deepak Mishra, accompanied by other senior officials, assured them that a proper inquiry will be conducted into the case. Mishra informed the protesters that a special investigating team has been formed for the probe.

He assured them of deployment of police at every Delhi church function.

Earlier, Koyickal said that no assurance was given to them either by the police or the government.

"We also want the government machinery to come up and act for justice to our people," he said.

Due to the protest, police stopped traffic outside the police headquarters located at ITO. The protesters, including women and children, raised slogans of "We want justice" and held up placards with messages like "Pray and let others pray".

On Monday, a Catholic church in east Delhi's Dilshad Garden area was gutted under mysterious circumstances.

The caretakers of the church have alleged the involvement of some unidentified men in the fire.