SHILLONG, Dec 29: The Mawlynnong Dorbar Shnong has urged the state and district authorities to take stringent action against social media influencer, Akash Sagar, who shouted pro-Hindu slogans inside the Epiphany Church, one of the oldest churches in the state, located in the village.
Mawlynnong Rangbah Shnong, Thomlin Khongthohrem on Sunday said the executive committee of the Dorbar Shnong has decided to wait for the outcome of the police investigation.
He said that no one from the village was aware of the incident until they saw media report mentioning the FIR filed by social activist, Angela Rangad.
Khongthohrem said that the social media influencer must have entered the church last Sunday.
According to him, they never close the church on Sundays after the morning service since they attend another service in the afternoon.
Khongthohrem said a police team came to the village to record his statement and that of some of the elders of the church.
He said they were assured by the police that strong action will be taken against the social media influencer for hurting the sentiments of the members of the church and the village as a whole.
Call for SoPs for tourists visiting religious sites
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has urged the state government to come up with standard operating procedures (SOPs) for tourists visiting religious sites in Meghalaya.
The demand has been made in the wake of an incident involving a social media influencer disrespecting religious sentiments at the Epiphany Church in Mawlynnong.
Calling the incident a deliberate attempt to incite communal tensions, the HYC called on the government and stakeholders in the tourism sector to take such acts seriously and avoid dismissing them.
The HYC emphasised the importance of disseminating awareness among tourists about being sensitive to the beliefs and sentiments of the local people, regardless of their faith.
The HYC proposed drafting clear SoPs outlining the dos and don’ts for visitors, particularly at sites of religious significance. In addition, the HYC urged the state police to expedite the investigation and ensure the swift arrest of the individual involved. The council stated that the authorities should set an example in this case to deter similar acts in the future and to ensure no one disrespects the Christian religion or any other faith in the state.
Reacting to the church trespass incident, former MLA George B Lyngdoh on Sunday stated that infringing upon the religious rights of other communities is unacceptable it only creates an environment of hate and communal disharmony.
“These are stray elements who may have done so out of religious enthusiasm or fervour or with an intention to spread the word but infringing upon the religious rights of other communities is unacceptable,” Lyngdoh said.
