Hundreds of Christians protest after fire destroys a church in India's capital

An elderly Indian Christian holds high a crucifix during a protest after a fire destroyed a church on Monday, outside Delhi police headquarters in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014. While the cause of the fire is not known, the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese said Tuesday that "mischief" was suspected. Christians account for about 2.5 percent of the country's 1.2 billion people and largely coexist peacefully. However, the issue of conversions by Christian missionaries has sporadically provoked violence by Hindus. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) (The Associated Press)

A protestor holds a placard during a rally organized after a fire destroyed a church on Monday, outside Delhi police headquarters in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014. While the cause of the fire is not known, the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese said Tuesday that "mischief" was suspected. Christians account for about 2.5 percent of the country's 1.2 billion people and largely coexist peacefully. However, the issue of conversions by Christian missionaries has sporadically provoked violence by Hindus. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) (The Associated Press)

A Christian leader addresses the gathering during a rally organized after a fire destroyed a church on Monday, outside Delhi police headquarters in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014. While the cause of the fire is not known, the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese said Tuesday that "mischief" was suspected. Christians account for about 2.5 percent of the country's 1.2 billion people and largely coexist peacefully. However, the issue of conversions by Christian missionaries has sporadically provoked violence by Hindus. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) (The Associated Press)

Hundreds of Christians are protesting in the Indian capital after a fire destroyed a church.

While the cause of the fire is not known, the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese said Tuesday that "mischief" was suspected.

The blaze broke out in St. Sebastian's Church in a northeast suburb of New Delhi on Monday.

A statement from the archdiocese says that forensic samples retrieved from the church smelled of fuel. There was no immediate comment from the police.

India is overwhelmingly Hindu but officially secular. Christians account for about 2.5 percent of the country's 1.2 billion people and largely coexist peacefully.

However, the issue of conversions by Christian missionaries has sporadically provoked violence by Hindus.