GUWAHATI: The United Christian Forum (UCF) has alleged "spying" on churches by police in Assam's hill district of Karbi Anglong, and has urged the district administration to intervene and stop this. Police, on the other hand, attributed the presence of cops in churches to ensure safety and security in view of recent threats to Christian institutions in the state.
In a memorandum submitted to the district commissioner on Tuesday, UCF complained of police personnel "barging into churches" in Diphu and under the Dokmuka police station area, taking photographs and asking queries, without prior intimation to church authorities, and said this was causing panic among the believers. The organisation also expressed concern over the "unprecedented collection of data of churches at random, and its adherents, by persons in uniform since last week".
The UCF memorandum requested the DC "to act and immediately call off this exercise in interest of public peace".
Police, however, said there had been complaints of intimidation of Christian institutions and educational trusts in several parts of the state, and hence, a security review was being carried out on the directions of police headquarters.
"Given the directive from the DGP's office, personnel from respective police stations are visiting the churches and talking to the office-bearers there. Police have gone there to only review the safety and security of the institutes through a survey," Karbi Anglong SP Sanjib Saikia told TOI.
The Assam Catholic Educational Trust had recently written to the DGP to ensure the safety of missionary educational institutes in the state following a threat by a right-wing Hindu group that allegedly asked the institutes to remove statues of Jesus and Mary as well as crucifix from their campuses. The priests and nuns were also allegedly asked not to wear their sacred robes.
The UCF, however, said the sanctity of holy shrines and worshipping places must be honoured by all.
Kangkan Kalita is a reporter with The Times of India and covers i...
Read MoreKangkan Kalita is a reporter with The Times of India and covers issues on health, education, stories of human interest while keeping a close watch on political developments and student movements. Reporting on environment and forest related issues and concerns of the northeast interest him equally.
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