JOWAI: A youth identified as Opching Bareh, a resident of Madanrtiang, Namdong area was arrested by West Jaintia Hills police on Tuesday after he carried a banner during Behdeinkhlam festival on Sunday that read: “If you don’t believe in Jesus Christ, you cannot reach the heavenly home of the father almighty”.
Bareh, wearing a white dress, walked around the sacred pool ‘Aitnar’ during the final day of the Behdeinkhlam festival of the Sein Raij Jowai, carrying the banner.
During interrogation, the youth, who is a student of Jowai Government Boys Higher Secondary School, said he was sent by God to preach about the Son of God.
Sources informed that some pastors and elders of the Presbyterian Church visited him at the Thana for counseling.
The Sein Raij Jowai has also lodged a complaint against the youth and the police took action against him after the banner has gone viral in social media.
“This is not the idea of any religion, we respect all religions and we don’t like such things to happen as it will definitely affect the people who belong to various faiths”, said a senior Christian leader adding that when one creates such havoc, the entire community is blamed.
The police are interrogating the youth and when asked whether he is suffering from any mental problem, the police said only a doctor can detect this.
