Youths attacked & physically abused by alleged “Bajrang Dal” activists for visiting Christmas celebrations in Silchar

Dec. 25: On one hand when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and other national leaders cutting across political lines have wished the nation on the occasion of Christmas, Silchar presented a quite different scene. On the Christmas evening, an unfortunate incident took place in the heart of Silchar town where a gang of alleged “Bajrang Dal” supporters manhandled a group of youths for visiting the Church at Oriental School on the Christmas night.

Christmas greetings to everyone! We recall the life and noble teachings of Jesus Christ, which placed topmost emphasis on service, kindness and humility. May everyone be healthy and prosperous. May there be harmony all around.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2021

As per reports, a group of youths, students of NIT, Silchar went to see the Christmas celebrations at Oriental School, Silchar in the evening on Saturday. Suddenly a group of boys who identified themselves as “Bajrang Dal” activists started to manhandle the youths of NIT, Silchar and also physically abused them. One of the victims of the unfortunate incident narrated that the alleged “Bajrang” activists started to slap them left and right.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

May the festival bring about love, joy, peace & prosperity for all. pic.twitter.com/YgsSA5HUG7

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) December 25, 2021

So what was their crime? It seems that the crime was that being Hindus, they went out to see the Christmas celebrations! Is it really a crime for Hindus to visit Church on the day of Christmas? When the Prime Minister of the nation himself has wished the nation twice on Saturday on the occasion of Christmas, a group claiming to believe in the rightist ideology practiced and professed by the Prime Minister himself is busy in manhandling people for visiting a Church!

Those who created alleged ruckus stated that they were angry because 25 December was “Tulsi Dibash” and instead of participating in it, the Hindus were busy in merry-making in the festival of the Christians. They said, “We have no objection in Christians celebrating Christmas, but Hindus should not take part in it.”

Taking to his Facebook wall, Anirban Jyoti Gupta, a renowned journalist of Barak Valley wrote, “These type of lumpens tarnish the image of PM Narendra Modi and his vision for New India! Some self claimed “Bajrang Dal” activists today manhandled my son a NIT Scholar just for attending a Christmas festival in Silchar near Silchar Oriental School. Shame, shame, shame. Is it the Culture of Hindutva? We should think once again.”

Mr. Gupta who takes pride in the rightist ideology also wrote out of pain and frustation of the incident that, “The grand son of late Vishnu Mohan Gupta who was the first Sangha Chalak of RSS in Barak Valley and in who’s house Golwalkor ji the ideologues of RSS, Dindayal Upadhyay stayed.  even Atal Vihari Bajpeyi also visited the house at Malugram, Silchar was brutally attacked!”

What came as a more surprise from the youths who were manhandled is that at that time when the unfortunate incident took place, some policemen were there there on duty. Anirban Jyoti Gupta while narrating the incident stated that, “The policemen on duty at that point near Oriental School remained as mute spectator to the hooliganism of the lumpens.” As per sources, the said Presbyterian church at Oriental School closed their premise after that incident took place. Infact, the right wing group which attacked the youths also ordered the people who went to see the Christmas celebrations to get out of the Presbyterian Church complex.

On the otherhand, when contacted, Bajrang Dal leaders refused to accept those boys who created ‘nuisance ‘ to be their members. Though later on police forces reached the spot but by that time, those involved in hooliganism escaped from the site.

Concerned citizens have expressed deep anguish when this incident became public after the social media post of the victims father. A social media user Partha Das commented, “This is really annoying. You must complain against them.” Sandipan Dutta Purkayastha termed the incident in Facebook as a “Shameful act.” Former Professor of Cachar College, Dr Santosh Ranjan Chakraborty commented, “It’s terrible. Hope he is not hurt.” Many has even opined that when even the monks of Ramakrishna Mission do celebrate Christmas with pomp and splendour, such instances of ‘hooliganism’ indeed tarnishes the image of the “island of peace”. Such type of ‘moral policing’ was vehemently opposed by the social media users.