By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 27: Meghalaya Police have registered a case against a man for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of people by trespassing inside a church and shouting “Jai Shri Ram” at its altar in East Khasi Hills district, an officer said on Friday.
The man had entered the Mawlynnong village Church on Thursday and shouted “Jai Shri Ram” and posted it on social media, the officer said.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has condemned the act and said administrative legal procedures are on in the matter wherein an individual targeted to vitiate peaceful coexistence of the people.
“The action seems deliberate. We as a state government will leave no stone unturned to prevent anyone from creating social, religious, and communal disharmony. Legal action is on,” the CM said.
A top police official from East Khasi Hills said, “We have registered a case at Pynursla police station against a person named Akash Sagar on Instagram after a complaint was lodged in this regard.”
He said an investigation is on and efforts are on to nab the culprit.
Social activist Angela Rangad filed a police complaint on Thursday seeking legal action against the person.
BJP slams church trespass
The BJP has slammed social media influencer, Akash Sagar for “criminally trespassing” the Church of Epiphany in 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 a statement on Friday, BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said such acts have the potential to hurt the sentiments of Christians across the state and the country, adding such cheap publicity stunts, aimed at furthering one’s personal agendas, only hurt the sensitivities of every right-thinking citizen across faiths and can act as a catalyst to inter-religious frictions.
“This must be avoided at all costs, especially in a state that prides itself for religious harmony, a state where people of all creeds wholeheartedly participate in each other’s festivals,” Kharkrang said.
While condemning the influencer, the BJP lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for joining church leaders on the occasion of Christmas.
“It’s important to note that the Prime Minister himself joins the Church leaders on Christmas Eve and leads the nation in celebrating the message of universal love. Any act of any individual or group, which vitiates the atmosphere of peaceful co-existence, deserves condemnation, and appropriate preventive measures must be taken,” the party said.
Kharkrang asked the state police to take necessary legal action against the accused.