Hindu extremists who vandalised Christmas festival freed, get hero’s welcome
Observers cite pliant judiciary, culture of impunity for attacks on minorities
New Delhi: In yet another stark example of how perpetrators of violence against religious minorities go unpunished in India, six members of the Hindutva outfit Bajrang Dal, arrested for vandalising Christmas decorations in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur city, walked out of jail and were accorded a hero’s welcome by fellow activists.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the six Bajrang Dal members were released on bail on January 1 after a sessions court overturned a magistrate court’s earlier decision denying them bail on December 29. Upon their release from Raipur jail, they were greeted with garlands and chants of Hindu religious slogans, while a procession was taken out in which the accused were carried on the shoulders of supporters.
Media reports said the vandalism occurred on December 24 at Magneto Mall, a popular shopping centre in Raipur, when a mob armed with wooden sticks barged into the premises during a strike called by Hindutva groups over alleged religious conversions. The mob smashed Christmas decorations, including installations of Santa Claus, reindeer, sleighs and snowmen, and overpowered security guards who tried to stop them.
An FIR was registered at Telibandha police station against 30–40 unidentified men under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to trespassing, rioting, causing damage to property and unlawful assembly. Police later arrested six men and apprehended a minor on December 27. The accused spent only five days in jail before securing bail.
Following the arrests, around 300 Bajrang Dal workers staged a sit-in outside the Telibandha police station, blocking traffic for nearly nine hours to pressure the authorities. Notably, no FIR was registered against those who blocked roads and disrupted public life.
Defending the actions of the accused, Bajrang Dal state coordinator Rishi Mishra claimed the incident was linked to alleged religious conversions and described the arrests as a “conspiracy.” He openly justified the slogans raised against Christians, underscoring the climate of hate and intolerance.
Human rights observers say the episode exposes the deep-rooted culture of impunity enjoyed by Hindutva groups, facilitated by a pliant judiciary and reluctant law enforcement. They note that while minorities are swiftly targeted under harsh laws, members of right-wing outfits accused of violence and vandalism are often released quickly and even celebrated as heroes.
Analysts warn that such judicial leniency and political patronage embolden extremist groups, normalise attacks on minorities and further erode the rule of law in India, raising serious concerns about the safety and rights of religious minorities under the BJP-led dispensation.
