Mumbai: Three motorcycle-borne men wearing masks threw stones at a statue in the premises of the St. George Church at New Panvel in Navi Mumbai early Saturday morning and fled, S B Suryavanshi, assistant commissioner of police, said.

The incident, which took place around 1.30 am Saturday, was captured on CCTV cameras in church premises.

“The men came on two or three motorcycles. The glass casing of the statue has been damaged in the incident. The CCTV footage has captured only the pelting of stones and not the details of the attackers. It is also a bit grainy and unclear,” Suryavanshi said.

A case has been registered at the Khandeshwar police station and a probe is under way.

The Bombay Archdiocese has condemned the attack on the Syro-Malabar church. “I have spoken to the chancellor of the Syro-Malabar diocese in Mumbai. The statue of St George has not been damaged. The attackers had covered their faces with handkerchiefs. Police have promised swift action,” said Fr Nigel Barrett, spokesperson of the Bombay Archdiocese.

Meanwhile, the archbishop of Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias participated in silent march organised in south Mumbai on Saturday to condemn the rape of a nun in West Bengal. The march ended with a petition signed by the participants, addressed to the Prime Minister, seeking a speedy probe into the incident and punishment for the culprits. The march started from Radio Club and ended at the Fort Convent School grounds.

“I personally feel sad, embarrassed, ashamed and angry. Far too many incidents of this kind are being reported,” the archbishop said about the West Bengal incident.