One Akash Sagar posted videos on social media platforms while desecrating the Church of Epiphany in Mawlynnong
SHILLONG, Dec 26: Social activist Angela Rangad on Thursday filed an FIR against one Akash Sagar for criminally trespassing the Church of Epiphany in the East Khasi Hills district’s Mawlynnong and desecrating its religious sanctity by shouting non-Christian slogans and mockingly singing non-Christian songs at the altar.
In the FIR filed at Laitumkhrah police station, Rangad pointed out that she came across videos on Facebook and Instagram by Sagar, where he is seen desecrating the religious sanctity of the church in a planned manner.
According to Rangad, he did it deliberately with two others who appeared in the video to create communal disharmony, insult the minority culture, and establish a majoritarian culture of hate in violation of all constitutional rights of religious freedom.
“This video creates a culture of fear and is liable to create public disorder. Moreover, these videos are being shared widely by handles promoting religious majoritarianism and hate,” she said.
“I, therefore, appeal to you to take strong legal action against this person involved in this criminal act and criminal conspiracy and also ask the social media platforms to ban these videos, their creator, and the people and groups sharing these. This person needs to be booked and legal action should ensue to ensure that such criminal acts that threaten the peace do not take place again,” she stated in the FIR.
“This is an act trying to communalise and insult us. Many of us are indifferent to the communal hate that is taking place in the country. We know that the Muslims and Christians in other parts of the country have been persecuted in the past ten years, but we think we are safe here. And here a person came to our church and did this to send a message that this is a Hindu Rashtra they are aiming towards,” Rangad told reporters.
“We cannot say this is just a one-off video. The people in charge of the Church in Mawlynnong also ought to file FIRs because this is an affront to all of us. This is a criminal communal act that aims at divisiveness and hatred and we hope the police will ensure that this person is dragged back to Meghalaya as he didn’t do this alone,” she said.
“This is also a challenge to those leading our state. Are you just going to keep quiet when such rampant hatred is being spread in your own state also or are you going to ensure this person is booked and such an act does not take place in our state?” she asked.
CSWO president, Agnes Kharshiing said, “We have to respect each other and not communalise and bring hatred. If such people indulge in such acts, it sends a very wrong signal.”
Author and academician, Bhogtoram Mawroh said, “They are trying to showcase all of it belongs to them. If we accept that it is going to bring another ideology like Hindu Rashtra, it is a delusional thought. Such incidents have the potential to create tension in the state.”
“This is deliberate and it is important that such activities need to be checked. If we don’t, it will encourage more of it and what happens is anarchy and communal tension. The government and police should take strong action,” he added.