Chikkaballapur, Dec 23 (IANS): At a time when the BJP is bringing Anti-Conversion bill in the assembly, some unidentified miscreants on Thursday vandalised a church in here.

The incident took place in Susepalya village in Chikkaballapur taluk. The miscreants have broken the hand and damaged the statue of Saint Anthony installed near Rangadhamaiah Lakebund area.

A parishioner reported the damage caused to a statue of St Antony before a police complaint was lodged. According to the complaint, a large stone was found inside an enclosure where the statue was kept at the 150-year-old church. 

About 80 Christian families live in the area and the incident has caused panic among them about their security. Fr Anthony Daniel lodged a complaint in this regard with Chikkaballapur rural police station.

The police rushed to the spot and took the statue into custody. They also recorded statements of the locals and began investigation to nab the miscreants.

Meanwhile, the opposition has attacked the BJP government saying that its statements and decisions to encourage moral policing in the state are leading to attacks on minorities and encouraging such incidents.