Don Bosco statue desecrated in Assam

The statue of priest and educator St Don Bosco in front of the Bishop's House here in Sonitpur district was vandalised, a police officer said on Tuesday.

Locals found the statue desecrated on Sunday morning and lodged a complaint at Tezpur police station, Sonitpur District Additional SP HQ Numal Mahanta said.

The case was registered under sections of IPC, including 295 (defiling place of worship with intent to insult religion).

Investigations are on, Mahanta said. Don Bosco, whose actual name is John Bosco, was an Italian Roman Catholic priest, educator and writer of the 19th century.

"An FIR has been registered with the police. We hope that the culprits will be booked and faith and security of the Christian community will be restored," said Allen Brooks, spokesperson of the Assam Christian Forum.

It is shocking that such an incident has happened in Tezpur, which is considered to be the cultural capital of Assam, Brooks said.

"It may be recalled that a few years ago, the Saint's statue was desecrated in Guwahati too," he said.

Brooks was referring to the vandalising of Don Bosco's statue at Bharalumukh area by the side of the Brahmaputra river in August 2015.