A wave of disruptions targeting Christmas celebrations swept across several Indian states this past week, culminating in an act of vandalism at a school in Assam on Christmas Eve. Incidents were reported from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, with police filing formal complaints in some instances while investigations continue in others.
Assam and Chhattisgarh: School and Mall Targeted
On Wednesday, December 24, a group identifying as Bajrang Dal activists stormed St. Mary’s English School in Panigaon, located in Assam's Nalbari town. The group destroyed Christmas decorations within the school premises. Earlier the same day, the same individuals were accused of destroying Christmas ornaments being sold at a local shop.
Nalbari Senior Superintendent of Police, Bibekananda Das, confirmed that a complaint had been received from the school authorities. In videos circulating from the incident, the group can purportedly be heard shouting Bajrang Dal slogans as well as chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’.
Also on Wednesday, in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur, a mob armed with sticks barged into the Magneto Mall and vandalised Christmas decorations and installations. This occurred on a day when the Sarva Hindu Samaj had called for a state-wide bandh protesting alleged religious conversions. A mall employee stated that 80-90 people entered and went on a rampage.
Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh said an FIR has been filed in connection with the mall incident. "No arrest has been made so far. Our probe is on to identify the accused," he stated.
Madhya Pradesh: Church Services Disrupted
In Madhya Pradesh, two separate incidents were reported from Jabalpur. On Saturday, BJP’s Jabalpur district vice-president Anju Bhargava allegedly manhandled a visually impaired woman after she entered a church in the Katanga area. Bhargava claimed children were being converted to Christianity there.
The woman, speaking to The Indian Express, clarified, "Just because I come to celebrate Christmas doesn’t mean I have changed my religion." While local police have not filed an FIR, the Jabalpur BJP unit has issued a show-cause notice to Bhargava. Mahanagar president Rakesh Sonkar said she has been given seven days to explain her conduct.
On Sunday morning, a prayer service at a church in Madhotal, Jabalpur, was disrupted by members of a right-wing organisation, identified as the Hindu Seva Parishad. They claimed they were investigating potential conversion activities. However, attendees said 15 to 20 men forcibly entered the church during prayers, chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and creating panic. Police detained several youths for creating a disturbance and are investigating the sequence of events.
Other States: Rajasthan and Delhi Incidents
In Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, the education department issued an order on December 22 barring schools from "forcing" children to dress up as Santa Claus on Christmas. The order cited a letter from the Bharat Tibet Sahayog Manch, stating the district is a Sanatana (Hindu and Sikh) dominated area with almost no Christian families, making such programmes "not always justified."
From Delhi, a video surfaced on Monday showing a group of women wearing Santa Claus caps being heckled by men, allegedly Bajrang Dal members, in Lajpat Nagar. The men accused the women of religious proselytisation. Delhi Police, however, termed it "a minor and momentary verbal disagreement" that was resolved on the spot, and stated no formal complaint was received.
The series of events highlights a tense atmosphere around Christmas celebrations in several parts of the country, with law enforcement agencies at different stages of response and investigation.
