The Shillong All Faiths Forum (SAFF) on January 4 condemned the incident of “vandalizing” idols at a temple at Mawbah in Shillong.
In a statement issued to the media, the SAFF said: “The SAFF strongly denounced this incident, and the representatives of all the faith communities under the SAFF have unanimously expressed great displeasure that this obnoxious act had taken place in Shillong.”
SAFF president P Lyngdoh said that the incident at Boothnath Kali Mandir, Mawbah on the intervening night of January 1 and 2 where an idol was “vandalised”, is truly a case of pure hooliganism and thoughtless vandalism.
“If not tempered with sanity and understanding, acts such as these would portend to invoke communal hatred and religious fanaticism and perpetrators of these incidents should be appropriately dealt with by the authorities,” Lyngdoh added.
The SAFF asked all leaders of different communities and organisations to be on the alert to curb repetitions of these acts and at the same time to identify those who are crying out in need of lawful support, guidance and counselling. This will help promote harmony and respect in the communities, the forum said.
The SAFF also appealed to the authorities to make extra efforts in securing these locations in and around the city which are crime-prone zones.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Police started probe on the matter. A senior district police officer was on January 4 quoted as saying by news agency PTI: “We have been informed of the matter. We have registered a case of vandalism and are investigating the issue.”
While no one has been arrested as yet in the case, the senior police officer said that a thorough investigation is on to find the culprits involved in the criminal act.
