In Nalbari, Assam, police have arrested three Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists and one Bajrang Dal activist following acts of vandalism targeting Christmas celebrations. The incident occurred on Wednesday, when a group of Hindutva activists stormed St Mary's School in Panigaon village and destroyed Christmas decorations. They also targeted nearby shops in Nalbari town, burning Christmas items and dismantling a nativity crib on the school premises.
The arrested individuals include Bhaskar Deka, Nalbari district secretary of VHP; Manash Jyoti Patgiri, district vice-president of VHP; Biju Dutta, assistant secretary of VHP; and Nayan Talukdar, district convener of Bajrang Dal. They have been charged under various sections of the Indian Justice Code, including criminal trespass, mischief, criminal intimidation, and criminal conspiracy.
According to Fr. Baiju Sebastian, the principal of St. Mary's School, the incident took place around 2:30 pm on Wednesday when unidentified miscreants entered the school premises, damaging decorations, lights, plant pots, and other articles, which were subsequently set on fire. The activists were reportedly searching for the school principal and allegedly threatened school officials, questioning why they celebrated Christmas but did not celebrate Saraswati Puja on campus. A video of the incident purportedly shows the group shouting Bajrang Dal slogans, as well as slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Hindu Rashtra'.
The VHP activists also went to various shops selling Christmas goods in Nalbari town and set fire to some items in front of the shops. Bhaskar Deka, VHPBD Nalbari District Secretary, told reporters, "We don't want Christian festivals here. Trade in any festival-related items of Indian origin. But we do not accept doing business with a festival of non-Indian origin".
The Assam Christian Forum (ACF) has condemned the incident, stating that it "wounds religious sentiments, spreads hatred, and violates constitutional rights to freedom of religion under Article 25, threatening Assam's peace and harmony,". Allen Brooks, spokesperson of ACF, voiced these concerns. Former BJP MLA and now Congress leader Ashok Sharma also reacted to the incident, stating, "It is a matter of concern. The Constitution gives equal rights to all religions in India. Citizens have every right to follow religion of their choice. I condemn this kind of attack and demand strong action for the attackers".
The incident in Nalbari is part of a series of Christmas disruptions reported from different parts of the country, including Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. These incidents highlight the rising religious tensions during festive celebrations. In Chhattisgarh, a mob of right-wing activists vandalized Christmas decorations at a mall in Raipur. In Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar district, the education department barred schools from "forcing" children to dress up as Santa Claus on Christmas, following a letter from Bharat Tibet Sahayog Manch stating that the district is a Sanatana (Hindu and Sikh) dominated area.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also issued public appeals urging Hindus to refrain from celebrating Christmas, describing participation in the festival as a threat to "cultural awareness,". Critics say these calls have contributed to an atmosphere of exclusion and emboldened groups to harass vendors, disrupt celebrations, and intimidate Christians during the season.
