Assam’s Karbi Anglong district administration held a meeting with church leaders on Wednesday after a memorandum flagging the “unprecedented random collection” of information on churches by police triggered “panic among believers”.

The meeting was called to allay misunderstanding over the information-gathering initiative.

In a one-page memorandum to the Karbi Anglong deputy commissioner (Madhumita Bhagabati), on Tuesday, the United Christian Forum (UCF), an organisation having members from all denominations in the district, drew her attention to “police personnel in uniform barging into the church premises and taking photos and asking queries on the church without prior intimation and official instruction” over the past week causing “panic among believers”.

The UCF, citing data collection from churches and worshippers in the Diphu town area and Dokmuka PS in the district, said the exercise by the police department has “caused panic and a fear psychosis” among the church members. Sources said Christians make up for over 16 per cent of the district population.

Appealing to maintain the “sanctity” of holy shrines and places of worship, the UCF said any nature of “unwarranted obtrusion without proper official order by an esteemed department” has hurt the sentiments of the churches and its adherents.

Though district police chief S.K. Saikia issued a clarification on Tuesday about the information collection drive being carried out on the instruction of the police headquarters to ensure “the safety and security of such institutions and personnel”, the district administration also convened an-hour long meeting in Diphu with church leaders on Wednesday to allay any misunderstanding over the move.

Tuesday’s police statement said: “It is also pertinent to mention here that the said exercise is being conducted as a follow-up action of the directions of the Govt. of Assam based on a complaint petition submitted by United Christian Forum (UCF), Golaghat to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam on 19/02/2024 regarding grievances of Christian Community against the recent threats and attacks on Christian schools.”

On Wednesday, the district administration briefed the church leaders about the instruction of the police headquarters to all SPs to ensure the safety of churches and Christian educational institutions in the state.