Police in Assam's Nalbari district have taken into custody four individuals associated with right-wing Hindu groups following a brazen act of vandalism at a Christian school. The arrests on Thursday came a day after activists stormed St Mary's School, tearing down and burning Christmas decorations and issuing threats to the staff.
Details of the Nalbari School Vandalism
The incident unfolded on Wednesday afternoon, around 2:30 pm, when a group of individuals entered the premises of St Mary's School. The miscreants targeted festive banners, posters, lights, plant pots, and other decorative articles, many of which were subsequently set ablaze. The group then moved to nearby shops in Nalbari town that were selling Christmas items, continuing their spree of destruction. They also dismantled a nativity crib set up on the school campus.
In a video from the scene, activists were heard shouting "Jai Shree Ram" slogans. They confronted school officials, questioning whether Saraswati Puja was celebrated on the campus and warning them to stop Christmas celebrations "from this year." The group also searched for the school principal, Father Baiju Sebastian, who was not present at the time.
Police Action and Identities of the Accused
Acting on a formal complaint lodged by Father Sebastian at the Belsor Police Station, authorities swiftly investigated the matter. Nalbari Superintendent of Police Bibekananda Das confirmed the arrest of four local men linked directly to the vandalism. "We earlier identified three active members, though the group was larger. All were locals of Nalbari district," Das stated.
The arrested individuals have been identified as prominent office-bearers of their respective organisations. They are: Bhaskar Deka (Nalbari district secretary of VHP), Manash Jyoti Patgiri (vice president of VHP), Biju Dutta (assistant secretary of VHP), and Nayan Talukdar (district convener of Bajrang Dal, Nalbari). They have been charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal trespass, mischief, criminal intimidation, and criminal conspiracy.
Community Outcry and Demands for Justice
The attack has drawn sharp condemnation from the Christian community and civil society in Assam. The Assam Christian Forum (ACF) issued a strong statement, calling the act a deliberate wounding of religious sentiments that spreads hatred. ACF spokesperson Allen Brooks stated that the vandalism violates constitutional rights to freedom of religion under Article 25 and poses a threat to the state's peace and harmony.
"We demand the arrest of all culprits and call for strict adherence to the law to ensure exemplary punishment," Brooks said. He emphasized that such punishment would deter future incidents and help restore public faith in the justice system. The forum has also called for enhanced security protocols for places of worship and religious events across Assam to prevent a recurrence.
Brooks invoked Assam's historical ethos, adding, "This is not Assam's culture — and not true to Assam's ethos of unity inspired by saint Srimanta Shankardeva." The police action is being closely watched as a test of the state's commitment to maintaining law and order and protecting the religious freedoms of all communities.
