Christmas vandalism sparks mass arrests in Raipur; Assam acts too with crackdown on 'religious intolerance'

CCTV footage showed members of some Hindu organisations entering the mall with sticks and damaging property.

Police confirmed that several accused have been identified and strict action will be taken.

In a separate incident, a group allegedly vandalised Christmas decorations at St. Mary’s English School in the Panigaon area, destroying lights, plant pots, and other festive items while raising “Jai Shri Ram” slogans and warning the school against celebrating Christmas.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the miscreants involved have been arrested.

The incidents came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited a church in New Delhi, sharing Christmas greetings on social media and highlighting messages of compassion, love, and goodwill.

Posting glimpses from the Cathedral Church of the Redemption, Modi wrote: “May Christmas bring renewed hope, warmth and a shared commitment to kindness,” and expressed hope that the spirit of the festival would inspire harmony across society.

Reactions

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday raised concerns over reports of alleged attacks on Christians in the days leading up to Christmas, warning that such incidents threaten India’s constitutional values and affect society as a whole.

Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, the four-time Member of Parliament said there was a growing need to show solidarity with Christian communities amid incidents reported from different parts of the country.

He cited an alleged attack on a carol-singing group in Kerala’s Palakkad district as particularly troubling.

“To my mind, this solidarity is fundamental. Sadly, there are attacks on Christians in different places of the country. Even in Kerala, there was an attack on a carol singing group in Palakkad, which is truly shocking,” Tharoor said.

He stressed that such incidents go beyond any one community. “When our traditions are attacked, it is not only Christians who are attacked, it is all of us. Every Indian is assaulted. Our constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship and freedom of belief is being attacked, and we must all stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers,” he said.

Drawing a comparison between the West Bengal and BJP-ruled states, Trinamool Congress put up an X post that reads, "Two videos. Two realities. One video captures a politics driven by fear. The other shows Bengal celebrating with freedom and love. This difference defines us, and it is what we fight to protect."