India, April 18 -- A large protest broke out on Friday at the main gate of the Poona Christian Cemetery near the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) fire brigade office at Dhobi Ghat, as nearly a thousand members of the Marathi-speaking Christian community gathered to oppose a proposed demolition drive by the Board.

The site includes the Shiloh Marathi Church of Christ, located within the cemetery premises, which PCB had marked for demolition as part of its action against alleged unauthorised structures.

The demonstration saw participation from Congress corporators Arvind Shinde and Rafique Shaikh, Azad Samaj Party Pune president advocate Tosif Shaikh, and office-bearers of the Bhim Army. Protesters alleged that the Board's move violated religi...