Agra, April 23
Three people have been detained for questioning over the vandalisation of a church here, police said on Thursday.

The St. Mary\'s Church in the Agra Cantonment area was vandalised by unidentified miscreants, some statues were damaged and the main gate disfigured on the night of April 15-16.

Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh Modak said three people -- identified as Nasir, Zafar and Zaffruddin, all aged between 30-35 years -- were taken into custody as they were found to be near the church when the incident took place.

He said they could not explain their presence in the area at that particular time.

However, their family members said they had gone to see a shopping exhibition at the nearby Ramlila ground and were returning home.

Police said if no substantial evidence was found against them, they would be released after an investigation.

The family members and activists of the Peace Party protested at the Agra Collectorate and demanded their immediate release saying they were innocent.

Peace Party state general secretary Jahangir Alvi alleged that police had detained the wrong people as they were poor and could not defend themselves.

Three detained over Agra church vandalism