Police downplays incident of Bajrang Dal members confronting Christians in Delhi
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Photo: Maktoob Media
In another reported incident involving alleged intimidation of Christians, a video circulating on X purportedly shows members of the Bajrang Dal confronting a group of people in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar and allegedly asking them to leave the area after accusing them of religious conversion for wearing Santa Claus caps.
As per the claims made in the post on X, the group—said to include women and children dressed in Santa hats—was stopped by activists of the Hindu right-wing organisation, who allegedly objected to the activity being carried out in public and told them that such celebrations should be confined to their homes.
In the video, individuals believed to be the activists are heard telling the group to leave and to celebrate privately, while others appear to shout at them to go away. The post also alleged that some of the activists behaved improperly towards women during the exchange, Maktoob Media reported.
The incident was described as part of a broader pattern, with Bajrang Dal members having previously been linked to similar episodes in which people celebrating Christmas or wearing Santa caps were accused of attempting religious conversions.
The Delhi Police, however, played down the episode, terming it a brief and minor verbal exchange. According to the police, the incident took place on December 21 and did not develop into any confrontation or pose a law-and-order concern, as reported by PTI.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari stated that the issue was resolved amicably at the spot and that there was no escalation, adding that the locality remained calm and normal throughout. Police officials further said that no complaint had been lodged, either through a PCR call or at the local police station. Based on preliminary checks, they indicated that the matter appeared to be personal and isolated.
In an official clarification, the police asserted that the incident did not have any communal or religious dimension and warned that portraying it otherwise would be incorrect and misleading.