Tura, April 21: Christian groups in Meghalaya’s Garo hills are working to quell the rapid growth of Satanism after reports that several teenagers had taken up devil worship.
At least 26 teenagers, all in the age group of 13 – 18 years are undergoing counselling at different churches in Tura. A report prepared by groups working to curb the practice say that there are several young groups in Tura and Williamnagar, who are engaged in Satanism. However, they refuse to divulge the numbers.
The practise was first reported from Matchakolgre locality in Tura last week. Following which a vigilance committee has been formed.
Salinder Marak, secretary of Matchakolgre Development Committee said, “We are terrible disturbed that teenagers are getting into such practice. We have found a group of children, who were high on intoxicants at the graveyard. We have referred them to the church for counselling”.
He also said that recently a group of ten boys were found making an attempt to write on the walls. Marak added, “I feel that the cult is spreading like “wildfire” due to an identity crisis among the youth”.
He told that West Garo Hills, SP Mukesh Singh has extended full co-operation in checking the practice. “The police is ensuring regular patrolling of the graveyards in different localities”, said Marak.
The actual strength of Satan worshippers is difficult to determine, but such groups also exist in Tura and Williamnagar town, and they are using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to expand their network, said Dr. Jova Marak, an activist working to identify such youths for counselling.
“Some of the Christian youth who have renounced Satan worship have told us that they would be called for services after midnight at the cemetery and other locations, and asked to wear black T-shirts and be called by their new nicknames,” said Dr. Jova.
Dr. Jova said, “the parents of numerous youngsters have expressed concerns about their children leaving home around midnight. Satan worship has considerably changed the demeanor and the worldview of the youth, though no criminal activity by them has been reported so far”.
The group has formed a forum titled – A’chik underground cult on Facebook and is inviting youngsters to become part of devil worship. Other groups are known by name and style – Dark Star, Outlawz and ETR. The graffiti on the walls in different locality stand testimony of this practise.
The Roman Catholic Church and Baptist Church in Garo hills have said it is shocked to learn about the phenomenon and is working with to counter it.
Dr. Bethel Sangma, a psychiatrist said, “It is difficult for me to comment, as to why youngsters are getting influenced to such practices”.
“It is a strange crisis of faith. If one goes by the observations made by various responsible Church leaders this crisis seems to have arisen out of the cult of ‘Satanic Worship’ that is fast catching among the teenagers and youths”, said Tisdali Sangma, a retired government servant.
Budhadev Prasad, an entrepreneur said, “At different localities, many youngsters hang around at midnight, probably under influence of drugs. They write on the walls. It is really disturbing”. He also said, “The youngsters are getting into cult worship, as many have been misguided. We had never heard of such practice here, I believe that youngsters
have got into this practise from elsewhere”.
Though many church leaders are not coming out openly to comment, it is a fact that the sudden emergence of the ‘cult worship’ among the Garo youths has baffled many a church leaders, and elders of the Garo society.
“Teenagers are being ‘seduced’ by the ‘satanic groups’ that used social networking sites to spread its tentacles”, said Elsa Sangma, a concerned mother of two young sons, who was shocked to learn about this new development.
She said, “Satanism is not, however, a widespread phenomenon in India. Such group are an alarm bell. The Church has to work hard to deepen and strengthen faith in children and young people through pastoral programs of formation”.
A church leader, who did not wish to be quoted, described this phenomenon as ‘invasion on churches in Garo hills’. Many concern echoes similar views as they say that teenagers and youths were easily influenced by the alien culture through social websites and friends.(SP News)
