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In a recent incident, two US nationals were detained by Assam Police in Sonitpur district on Saturday for allegedly propagating Christianity without proper permission, following complaints from local residents in the Tezpur area.
Detention of US Nationals in Assam for Alleged Unauthorized Christian Propagation. Sonitpur Superintendent of Police, Susanta Biswa Sarma, disclosed that the duo, who were on tourist visas, had been fined $500 each for engaging in religious activities without the required authorization. While their names were not revealed, no formal case was registered against them.
SP Sarma clarified the situation, stating, “They were on tourist visas, and as per the provisions, they cannot perform religious activities or propagate religious ideologies. Hence, we called them to the police station and imposed fines of $500 each.”
This incident follows a similar occurrence in October 2022 when seven German nationals and three Swedish nationals were detained in Assam’s Golaghat and Dibrugarh districts for violating visa norms by engaging in missionary activities. They were subsequently deported to their respective countries after being taken to Guwahati.
Alleged Unauthorized Christian Propagation Raises in Assam, Detention of US Nationals. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had, in the past, urged religious communities to refrain from converting Hindus under the guise of providing education and health facilities. This incident further highlights concerns raised by Hindu organizations, alleging that missionaries from various countries exploit tourist visas to propagate Christianity in the northeastern states, flouting visa regulations. The detention and fine imposed on the US nationals add to the ongoing debate regarding religious activities and visa norms in the region. Stay tuned for further developments on this matter.
