MADHYA PRADESH: Church was torched by unidentified persons in MPs Narmadapuram district located in the Chaukipura area which is considered a tribal population, a police official said on Monday.

The incident came to the fore on Sunday when locals found burnt furniture inside and blackened walls with smoke from a fire and Ram written on them. Preliminary investigation revealed the vandals entered the place of worship built around five years ago by removing a window net and burnt it from the inside.

SDOP Chauhan said teams have been formed to identify and nab the vandals and a case has been registered under Indian Penal Code Section 295 ( Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class).

The church, located in Sukhtawa village of Kesala block, was connected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.