Christianity threat looms over Bhuvan Pahar

The formation of a Congress-led government in Mizoram has brought a number of problems for the people of the neighboring state of Assam.

The Bhuvan Pahar, one of the most holy places in Barak valley of Assam has come under the threat of miscreants for last two months... Gun totting members of a newly formed militant organization, namely, Manmasi National Christian Army (MNCA), comprising about fifteen rebels, has been forcing the Hindu residents of Bhuvan Pahar, under the threat of gun to convert to Christianity.

This came to the notice of Sonai police station, which along with the 5th Assam Rifles, conducted a search operation, which led to the arrest of 13 miscreants, including their commander-in-chief. Two SBBL guns and a country made pistol along with sufficient quantity of ammunition were seized from their possession. All the miscreants were handed over to Sonai police for further investigation. These groups of miscreants dressed in black with a red cross on their back along with arms enter from Tipaimukh area through Barak River by boat and mount over Bhuvan Pahar. They threaten and ask the Hindu people of Tezpur village, including the priest of the Hindu temple to convert into Christianity.

The problem began when Hmar miscreants stated themselves to be the members of Manmasi National Christian Army and had started putting pressure on the Hindu residents of Bhuvan Pahar to become Christian. The local residents informed that Manmasi National Christian Army cadres had painted Cross symbol on the wall of the temples with their blood.

Sources further said that the pressure from the Hmar militants began about two months ago, when the Congress-led government by Lalthanhwala came into power in the state of Mizoram. At least seven to eight Hmar youths were frequently visiting Bhuvan Pahar, which had nearly 700 Hindu people as well as eight Hindu temples. These youths approached with gun in one hand and the Bible in the other. They had a meeting with the villagers in Tezpur village on the Bhuvan Pahar and distributed Bible among them. They had also built on a Church in Tezpur village.

Meanwhile, Rajkumar, priest of the Naga Mandir on Bhuvan Pahar informed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) members that he was forced by the Hmar to show them the tracks on the Pahar at gun point. Further, the Hmar posted a flag, a tabloid and a Holy Cross on the wall of one of the temples bearing date May 29, 2009;

The VHP leaders were shown the video footage containing the Hindu temple, which had blood stained Holy Cross symbol. A local resident of the area said that pilgrims from various parts of the country had been visiting Bhuvan Pahar since the year 1816, but now Christians were forcing the Hindus to Convert. These Hmar youths come from Mizoram and they have powerful patrons behind them. The VHP had asked the local administration to arrange for the security of the Hindu temples, priest as well as the Hindu residents there.