Four Individuals Arrested for Vandalising Christmas Decorations at School in Assam

Four individuals associated with Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal were arrested for vandalising Christmas decorations at St Mary’s School in Assam. The incident involved damaging festive items and setting some on fire, prompting police action and ongoing investigations.

Four individuals linked to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal were detained on Thursday. They were accused of damaging Christmas decorations at a school and destroying festive items in shops in Assam's Nalbari district, according to police reports. The incident occurred on Wednesday when the suspects allegedly trespassed into St Mary's School in Panigaon village, under Belsor police station jurisdiction, and vandalised Christmas decorations.

The accused reportedly damaged external decorations, lights, plant pots, and other items, setting some on fire. This resulted in property damage, as stated by a senior official. A case has been filed at Belsor police station, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities are working to identify additional individuals involved in the incident.

Accused Individuals and Actions

The arrested individuals include VHP Nalbari district secretary Bhaskar Deka, parishad's district vice-president Manash Jyoti Patgiri, assistant secretary Biju Dutta, and Bajrang Dal's district convenor Nayan Talukdar. They allegedly shouted "Jai Shree Ram" slogans and warned school authorities against holding Christmas celebrations on Thursday.

In addition to the school incident, the accused targeted shops selling Christmas items in Nalbari town. They reportedly set fire to some goods near the Jain Mandir and entered various shopping malls and business establishments to destroy Christmas merchandise.

Police Investigation and Community Impact

Police are actively investigating the matter to bring all responsible parties to justice. The incident has raised concerns within the community about religious intolerance and the safety of public celebrations. Authorities are urging residents to remain calm while they continue their inquiries.

The actions of these individuals have sparked discussions about religious harmony and the importance of respecting diverse cultural practices. Community leaders are calling for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among different religious groups.

The situation highlights the need for increased security measures during festive seasons to prevent similar incidents. Local authorities are considering implementing stricter regulations to ensure public safety during celebrations.

With inputs from PTI