Panvel church attack act of vengeance, says CM; four held

Four people have been apprehended in connection with the March 21 attack on a church in New Panvel, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here on Tuesday, describing the attack as an "act of vengeance".

The main accused is 39-year-old Rahul Ramesh Patil, while the other three - Anilchandra Chavan, 27, Laxman Prasad Sugvekar, 21, and Mohammed Tabrek Sheikh, 20, were his associates, Fadnavis said.

They were nabbed by Navi Mumbai police.

The four allegedly attacked the St. George Church premises in Sector 19 of New Panvel region in Navi Mumbai around 1.30 a.m. on Saturday.

According to preliminary investigations, the attack was planned as a revenge by prime accused Rahul Ramesh Patil. Some church officials had complained to police about his illegal gambling den in the vicinity. It was raided by police on March 19 and then shut down. - IANS