Statue of Jesus vandalised in Mumbai too. ‘This is not an isolated incident’

The incident took place in the Worli district of the city. In a letter, the Christian organisation Watchdog Foundation has called for an investigation to identify those responsible. ‘Christian symbols repeatedly targeted’. The religious freedom enshrined in the Indian Constitution has been highlighted.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The Christian Watchdog Foundation is calling on the police to launch an investigation into the alleged vandalism of a statue of Jesus Christ in Gopal Nagar, near Mahinder Tower, in the Worli district of Mumbai.

The organisation urges the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) to identify those responsible and take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Watchdog Foundation states that such acts hurt religious sentiments and could undermine harmony between communities.

According to the complaint, unidentified individuals damaged the statue at around 7.00 pm on 7 June 2026. The act is said to have caused distress among Christians and local residents, who have called for strict action against those responsible.

In a letter addressed to the Mumbai Police Commissioner and copied to high-level state authorities, including the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the foundation describes the incident as a deliberate attack on a sacred Christian symbol. It emphasises that the statue holds deep religious significance for the community and that any damage to such symbols causes emotional and spiritual distress.

The organisation also argues that the matter should not be treated as a mere case of vandalism, but as an issue with wider implications for inter-communal peace. Furthermore, it expresses concern over what it described as repeated attacks on Christian religious symbols, including statues and crosses, fuelling fears of a possible pattern of targeted incidents.

The Watchdog Foundation calls on the police to file a preliminary report in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other applicable laws, to conduct a thorough investigation, and to bring those responsible to justice. Furthermore, it calls for preventive measures to safeguard religious sites and symbols. Emphasising the constitutional protections of religious freedom, the organisation states that all citizens have the right to practise and profess their faith without fear.

The petition is signed by Watchdog Foundation directors Nicholas Almeida and lawyer Godfrey Pimenta, who have called for swift and decisive action to reassure the Christian community and uphold the rule of law. The letter notes that “the statue is a sacred symbol of faith and devotion for Christians”. And that what has happened “does not appear to be an isolated incident”. “We are witnessing a disturbing phenomenon whereby statues, crosses and other religious symbols associated with the Christian community are repeatedly targeted and vandalised in various locations,” they add.

“India is a secular nation governed by the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen freedom of religion and the right to practise and profess their faith without fear,” they continue. “Any attempt to desecrate religious symbols strikes at the very foundations of inter-communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.”