Christmas Celebrations Disrupted Across India as Vandalism, Threats Surface in Multiple States

The article reports on Christmas disruptions across Indian states including Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. It describes incidents at schools, malls and churches, the involvement of right-wing groups, police actions, and debates over claims of religious conversions, with varying levels of formal action.

Across India, several Christmas events faced disruption this week, with incidents reported from Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. Crowds linked to right-wing groups allegedly targeted church services, mall displays and school programmes. Police in different states registered complaints or initiated inquiries, but arrests were limited and many probes remained at an early stage.

In most places, those involved claimed they were acting against alleged religious conversions or activities linked to Christmas celebrations. Yet, many participants and witnesses at the affected events rejected these claims. They said regular festive gatherings, decorations, or prayer meetings were interrupted, creating fear among schoolchildren, shoppers and churchgoers.

Christmas disruptions in India: incidents at schools, malls and churches

In Assam's Nalbari town, Bajrang Dal activists allegedly entered St. Mary's English School in Panigaon on 24 December and damaged decorations prepared for Christmas. Videos from the site appeared to capture people shouting Bajrang Dal slogans and raising cries of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Hindu Rashtra'. The same group allegedly destroyed Christmas ornaments on sale at a local shop earlier that day.

Nalbari Senior Superintendent of Police Bibekananda Das said a complaint from the school authorities had reached the police. Officers were examining the damage and verifying video material that circulated from the campus and the nearby market. The incident was one of several Christmas disruptions recorded in different states over the previous week.

On the same day, Christmas displays at Magneto Mall in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, were vandalised by a group carrying sticks. A mall employee stated that "80-90 people barged in" and damaged decorations and installations. The incident unfolded while a day-long 'Chhattisgarh bandh' called by the Sarva Hindu Samaj, over alleged religious conversions, was under way in the state capital.

Christmas disruptions in India: police response and legal action

Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh confirmed that an FIR had been registered after the attack on Magneto Mall. Singh said, "No arrest has been made so far. Our probe is on to identify the accused," indicating that investigators were still collecting evidence and seeking to match faces seen in videos with known individuals.

In Madhya Pradesh, political circles and police officials faced questions after separate incidents in Jabalpur. On Saturday, BJP Jabalpur district vice-president Anju Bhargava allegedly manhandled a visually impaired woman inside a church compound in the Katanga area. Bhargava reportedly claimed children present there were being converted to Christianity, an allegation denied by those at the scene.

Police in Jabalpur had not filed an FIR regarding the Katanga confrontation at the time of reporting. However, the local BJP unit issued a show-cause notice to Bhargava. Mahanagar president Rakesh Sonkar said the party had given Bhargava seven days "to explain her conduct". The woman involved strongly contested the conversion charge.

Christmas disruptions in India: claims of conversion and local orders

The visually impaired woman later told The Indian Express, "Just because I come to celebrate Christmas doesn't mean I have changed my religion." The statement highlighted how routine participation in Christmas events is coming under suspicion in some areas, especially where right-wing groups allege attempts at religious conversion.

Jabalpur reported another incident on Sunday morning at a church in Madhotal. Members of the Hindu Seva Parishad arrived during a prayer service, saying they received information about an unusually large gathering, including visitors from other districts. They claimed to be questioning possible conversion activities when violence broke out and tensions escalated.

Worshippers present at the Madhotal church gave a different account. They said 15 to 20 men forced their way into the building while prayers were ongoing, shouted "Jai Shri Ram" and triggered panic among the congregation. Police detained several youths for disturbing the peace and began reconstructing the timeline from statements taken on both sides.

In Rajasthan, education officials in Sri Ganganagar district moved to restrict Christmas-themed activities in schools. A circular dated 22 December directed schools not to "force" children to dress as Santa Claus during Christmas events. The order cited a complaint received from Bharat Tibet Sahayog Manch and referred to the district's demographic profile.

The order said, "Bharat Tibet Sahayog Manch has submitted a letter… stating that for the past few years, children are being made (to dress up as) Santa Claus on Christmas day in schools, whereas Sri Ganganagar district is a Sanatana (Hindu and Sikh) dominated area." Officials argued that schools must avoid unnecessary pressure linked to festive costumes.

The directive further stated: "Christian families are almost non-existent here. In such a situation, organising such programmes in schools and putting unnecessary pressure on children is not always justified. If information is received about pressure on children to become Santa Claus on Christmas day in any school, then the department will take action as per rules," outlining possible administrative steps.

Christmas disruptions in India: Delhi confrontation and video evidence

From Delhi, a separate video surfaced on Monday, apparently shot in the busy Lajpat Nagar market. It showed women wearing Santa caps being surrounded and heckled, allegedly by Bajrang Dal members. The men in the clip accused the women of religious proselytisation and demanded that they leave the area, prompting a brief argument recorded on camera.

Delhi Police said no formal complaint had been lodged regarding the Lajpat Nagar episode. Officials described the interaction in limited terms as "a minor and momentary verbal disagreement between individuals". They noted that the video showed no prolonged physical clash or major law-and-order problem linked with the Christmas period.

DCP (South East) Hemant Tiwari said, "The matter was amicably resolved on the spot by the individuals involved, without any escalation. Preliminary verification indicates that the issue was personal and isolated in nature," adding that the police did not treat it as part of a wider pattern, unlike some other Christmas disruptions reported elsewhere.

Christmas disruptions in India: comparative view across states

Details of the key incidents related to Christmas events across states, and the immediate police response, are summarised below for clarity.

The report is filed by Sukrita Baruah, Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Guwahati. From this North East hub, Sukrita Baruah covers ethnic tensions, cross-border developments and governance issues, including elections and tribal council decisions. Earlier, as an Education Correspondent in Delhi, Sukrita Baruah reported on the National Education Policy, campus politics and major entrance examinations.

Taken together, the events reflect heightened sensitivity around Christmas activities in different regions, especially where allegations of religious conversion surface. Officials often stress law and order, yet responses range from formal FIRs to simple verbal warnings. The pattern also shows how routine festive customs, such as decorations or attire, are drawing closer administrative and political scrutiny.