Guwahati, December 26: Assam Police have arrested four men for allegedly breaking into St Mary’s English School at Panigaon in Nalbari district and damaging Christmas decorations on December 24. Police said some items were also set on fire.

The school’s principal, Fr Baiju Sebastian, filed a written complaint stating that the incident took place at about 2.30 pm on December 24, when unknown people entered the campus without permission. The complaint said outer decorations, serial lights and plant pots were damaged, and some materials were burned, causing property loss.

Belsor Police Station registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Sub-Inspector Chanakya Das was assigned to the probe, according to police and local reports.

Police said the arrested men are:
Bhaskar Deka (34), Manash Jyoti Patgiri (32), Biju Dutta (34) and Nayan Talukdar (37). Reports said they are linked to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.

Nalbari SSP Bibekananda Das was quoted as saying the group involved was larger and that the police had identified and arrested four people so far.

Local reports also said the same group targeted nearby shops in Nalbari town selling Christmas items on the same day, and that more video clips from the area are being checked as part of the investigation.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the accused have been arrested and that further action will be taken as per law.

The Assam Christian Forum called for police action based on videos shared on social media and asked for strict legal steps against those involved.

Police said the investigation is continuing, and more people may be questioned as they piece together what happened and check if others were involved.