Christmas preparations at St. Mary’s School in Panigaon, located in Assam’s Nalbari district, were disrupted on December 24 when a group of miscreants allegedly stormed the school campus, vandalised decorations, and set festive materials on fire while raising religious slogans.
According to accounts from school authorities, the group entered the premises in the afternoon seeking to meet the school principal, Fr. Baiju Sebastian. In his absence, they confronted members of the religious staff present on campus and warned them against holding Christmas programmes. At the time, the principal was attending an official meeting with the district administration and was unable to respond immediately.
Witnesses said the group removed hoardings, pulled down decorative lighting, and damaged Christmas displays. Videos of the incident later circulated on social media, showing slogans being raised during the disruption. The incident caused fear among staff and disrupted preparations for the festival.
After returning to the campus, Fr. Sebastian informed senior police officials and the matter was also brought to the attention of the diocesan authorities. A formal complaint is expected to be submitted to the police. Law enforcement officials in Nalbari confirmed that an investigation is underway.
Condemning the incident, the school administration said the disruption amounted to intimidation and violated the constitutional right to celebrate religious festivals peacefully. Church authorities have appealed for calm and prayer, stressing that such incidents will not affect their commitment to education and social service. St. Mary’s School serves nearly 1,000 students from diverse backgrounds in the region. The incident comes at a significant time for the local diocese, which is observing key institutional milestones this year, and has renewed concerns over religious freedom during the Christmas season.
