Meghalaya: Police to Arrest Youth for Chanting 'Siya Ram Jai Jai Ram' in Church

Shillong, Dec 29 (NationPress) Akash Sagar, a social media influencer, is facing imminent arrest for chanting 'Siya Ram Jai Jai Ram' inside a church located in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, police officials stated on Sunday.

A senior police representative confirmed that the Meghalaya Police have located Sagar and are proceeding with the necessary steps for his apprehension.

However, the officer did not provide additional details regarding the individual.

Sagar is alleged to have entered a church in Mawlynnong village on December 26 and chanted 'Siya Ram Jai Jai Ram', which has sparked significant backlash from the local community.

Following the incident, an FIR was filed against him at the Pynursla police station.

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has called for Sagar's immediate arrest, condemning his actions as a “blatant act of insulting and disrespecting” Christians during his objectionable behavior in the Mawlynnong church.

Expressing strong opposition to the incident, the HYC’s Central Executive Council labeled it as a direct attack on individuals adhering to the Christian faith and beliefs.

The HYC urged law enforcement to swiftly detain Sagar and any accomplices, insisting that he should face the consequences of his actions as stipulated by the law. They emphasized the need for law enforcement officials in Meghalaya to set a precedent in this case to prevent future disrespect towards Christians in the state.

Meghalaya Police have initiated the case following a complaint lodged by social activist Angela Rangad, who accused Sagar of harming the religious sentiments of the community by entering the church and chanting 'Siya Ram Jai Jai Ram' in East Khasi Hills.

In her complaint, Rangad noted that she encountered videos on various social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, featuring Sagar's act of trespassing into the Church of Epiphany, Mawlynnong, East Khasi Hills, while deliberately desecrating the church's religious sanctity.

She stated, “The youth deliberately and in a premeditated and planned way trespassed into the altar area and shouted non-Christian slogans while mockingly singing non-Christian songs. This act was done with intent and in collaboration with two others shown in the video, aimed at creating communal discord, insulting minority cultures, and promoting a majoritarian culture of animosity, infringing upon the constitutional rights of religious freedom.”

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has also denounced the incident, confirming that legal actions are underway.

The BJP's Meghalaya unit previously condemned the occurrence at the Mawlynnong Church, where an individual was seen engaging in acts that could potentially offend the sentiments of Christians throughout the state and nation.

Demanding Sagar's prompt arrest, the Chief Spokesperson of Meghalaya BJP, Mariahom Kharkrang, stated that such publicity stunts, aimed at advancing personal agendas, only serve to undermine the sensitivities of considerate individuals across diverse faiths and can provoke inter-religious tensions.

Kharkrang remarked that it is vital to recognize that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself participates with church leaders on Christmas Eve, leading the country in celebrating the ethos of universal love.

The President of the Central Puja Committee, an influential Hindu organization in Meghalaya, Naba Bhattacharjee, has also expressed condemnation of the act.