The Assam Police has arrested four persons associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal for allegedly vandalising Christmas decorations at a school in Nalbari district, the administration said on Thursday.

The persons were identified as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s district Secretary Bhaskar Deka, its district Vice President Manash Jyoti Patgiri, its Assistant Secretary Biju Dutta and the Bajrang Dal’s district Convenor Nayan Talukdar.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal are part of a group of Hindutva organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The persons allegedly carried out the vandalism at St Mary’s School in Panigaon village on Wednesday. A video by India Today NE showed them setting fire to Christmas decorations and shouting “Jai Shri Ram”.

A case was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to criminal trespass, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. The persons have also been booked for mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substances.

In another incident in Nalbari, about 15 to 20 alleged members of the Hindutva organisations burnt Christmas decorations at a shop and forced the establishment to close, Asom Live had reported.

This came amid several incidents of attacks on Christians or disruptions to Christmas celebrations being reported in the past week.

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