Incidents targeting Christmas events have been reported in two Indian states. Groups identifying with Hindutva ideology disrupted celebrations in Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.
India: Hindu right-wing groups destroy Christmas Decoration during an event at a Mall in Chattisgarh, India. pic.twitter.com/ZM1zR7jAzR
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In Raipur, Chhattisgarh, a large group entered a shopping mall. The group, consisting of around 100 people, vandalized Christmas decorations. They also damaged figures of Santa Claus. Witnesses reported the group shouted slogans against Santa Claus.
The attack happened during a bandh, or shutdown, called by some groups. The bandh was to protest against alleged forced religious conversions.
Raipur police have registered cases against 30 people. Officials said they are reviewing CCTV footage from the mall. They promised further legal action based on the evidence.
A separate incident occurred in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. On Saturday night, members of right-wing Hindu organizations gathered outside a Christian church. They recited the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu devotional hymn.
Police were present at the scene but did not intervene to stop the gathering. Videos showed police personnel recording the event on their mobile phones. They did not ask the group to disperse.
These are not isolated events. In July, two nuns from Kerala were detained in Raipur. Bajrang Dal activists accused them of forced conversion. The nuns, Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis, were at Durg railway station. They were accused of taking girls for religious conversion. The activists handed them over to police, who arrested them.
The recent attacks have sparked strong protests. Other incidents include an assault on a visually impaired woman in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. She was attacked over alleged conversion. A BJP leader, Anju Bhargava, was identified as the assailant.
In Palakkad, Kerala, a children’s Christmas carol event was attacked. The attacker was reported to be an RSS worker.
Christian organizations have condemned the violence. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) called the attacks shocking. They stated that Christmas celebrations are happening “under the shadow of fear” this year.
The CBCI has made demands. They want Anju Bhargava expelled from the BJP. They also demand immediate action against organizations involved in such violence.
