Church trespass: Activist slams govt for failing to nab influencer

SHILLONG, Jan 21: Nearly a month has elapsed since social media influencer Akash Sagar criminally desecrated the religious sanctity of a church in Mawlynnong but the state police have not yet been able to apprehend him.
Social activist Angela Rangad, who had filed an FIR on December 26 in connection with the incident, on Tuesday said, “I followed it up with the SP and also communicated with the DGP but I don’t have any information about what has actually happened to the FIR and how far the investigation has moved.”
Questioning why it is difficult for the police to apprehend this person and those who aided him, she said, “The public ought to know. There is such bad PR from the side of the police and the government because they ought to keep the public informed. By not doing it and ignoring the situation, they are making a fool of themselves.”
Rangad said it is disgraceful that the accused used the incident to promote himself. “It is a shame to our investigating agencies and our government,” she said, adding that the state government should have taken the matter seriously.
“From my end, I filed the FIR and I will follow it up. We have to see a logical end to this,” she added.
Rangad had filed the FIR against Sagar for criminally trespassing the Church of Epiphany at Mawlynnong in the East Khasi Hills district and desecrating its religious sanctity by shouting non-Christian slogans and mockingly singing non-Christian songs at the altar.
The incident evoked widespread condemnations in the state with people demanding action from the state government.