Police in Meghalaya have registered a case against social media influencer Akash Sagar for allegedly trespassing into a church and chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at its altar, an act that has sparked widespread condemnation across the northeastern state.
The incident occurred at the Church of Epiphany in Mawlynnong village, East Khasi Hills district, where Sagar, who commands a following of 1.5 million on Instagram, entered the sacred space with two companions. According to police reports, he not only shouted the Hindu religious slogan but also mockingly altered Christian hymns, subsequently posting the footage on his social media platforms.
The videos, which continue to circulate widely on social media, show Sagar and his companions deliberately entering the altar area, a sacred space within the church. Social media platforms have been urged to remove the contentious content and take action against accounts promoting the footage.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma strongly condemned the act, describing it as a deliberate attempt to disturb the peaceful coexistence in the state. “We as a state government will leave no stone unturned to prevent anyone from creating social, religious, and communal disharmony,” Sangma told PTI, confirming that legal proceedings were underway.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger confirmed that a case has been registered at Pynursla police station following complaints. The police have launched a manhunt for Sagar, with local authorities requesting hotels, homestays, and tour operators to report any information about his whereabouts.
Social activist Angela Rangad, who filed one of the police complaints, emphasised the premeditated nature of the act. In her formal complaint, she highlighted that Sagar’s actions were designed to create communal disharmony and insulted the minority Christian community, violating constitutional rights of religious freedom. Rangad has also called for the immediate removal of the offensive content from social media platforms.
“The location and timing of this incident seem to suggest the advancement of an effort to create disharmony, discord and division among ethnic and religious communities by disrespect, insult, and hate solely with the intention to promote the majoritarian agenda. The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders’ Forum (KJCLF) calls upon the State Government, the Tourism industry, Community and Religious leaders to be more prudently stringent with the activities related to tourism and community relationships,” Rev Dr EH Kharkongor, Secretary of KJCLF, told Christian Today.
The incident has drawn criticism from various religious and community organisations, including the Central Puja Committee (CPC), an influential Hindu organisation in Meghalaya. CPC President Naba Bhattacharjee expressed anguish over the viral video and urged authorities to take exemplary action against the perpetrator.
The state’s BJP leadership has also distanced itself from the incident, with chief spokesperson M Kharkrang calling for stringent preventive measures against such “brainless pranks”. The party supported calls for legal action to ensure appropriate punishment for the mischievous deed.
Local authorities have intensified their search efforts across the region, with special instructions issued to all hospitality establishments. The police department has established multiple teams to track down Sagar, who remains at large despite the widespread manhunt. The controversial videos remain accessible on his Instagram account, which has prompted additional calls for action from community leaders and religious organisations across the state.
