Robbers strike at priest's house in Mumbai

A robbery at a priest's house in Mumbai once again signals the need for adequate security around parsonages and religious place of worship.

On Saturday, Fr Ashlin Fonseca's residence adjoin to Christ the King Church at Behrambaug in Oshiwara was robbed by a gang of four armed with knives, media reported.

The thieves, according to the police, broke in to the house, tied the priest and demanded the cupboard keys after which they made away with a gold ring, a cellphone and Rs 26,000 in cash.

The four also injured the priest when he tried to stop them, said the police.

The incident was reported to the State Minorities Commission vice-chairman Abraham Mathai who visited the spot and observed the need for heightened security around worship places.

He noted that religious places are vulnerable to such attacks and hence must be "provided with extra protection and police must beef up their patrolling in such places."

The last robbery that sent alarm bells ringing was the June heist at Santhome Cathedral, a popular pilgrimage centre in Tamil Nadu, which was burgled by unidentified men who made away with devotees' offerings worth at least Rs 1.25 lakh.