Condemning the recent attack on a church in Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said acts of vandalism on churches are “unfortunate” and must stop at once.

A church was vandalised and six police personnel, including an IPS officer, were attacked and injured on 2 January during a protest by tribals in connection with an alleged religious conversion in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur city, police had said.

The chief minister said that Christians have been “at the receiving end” and the state governments should intervene and ensure justice is done.

“An attack on a church is unfortunate. Such acts of vandalism should stop at once. Christians are at the receiving end and justice (should) be given wherever due,” Sangma told PTI.

According to Narayanpur district officials, tribals had gathered to protest against a clash that had taken place between two communities over alleged religious conversion in Edka village in the district on 1 January.

“Around 2,000 people were present for a meeting held in Narayanpur. Local tribal leaders Rupsai Salam, Narayan Markam and few others were leading the gathering,” Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI.

After the meeting, the crowd separated into groups. Armed with sticks they charged towards a church located in a school, he said.

When the police and district officials tried to stop them, some anti-social elements from the crowd hurled stones and attacked policemen with sticks, he said.

They entered the church and vandalised it.

The Meghalaya government has urged upon the district administration and the state governments, especially in Chhattisgarh, to intervene and ensure that those responsible for such crime be booked in accordance with law.

Chief minister Sangma also responded to a query on a letter issued by an SP in Assam who had sought details of churches established in the last one year and instances of conversions in Assam.

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“This is something that is really uncalled for. The chief minister of Assam has stated that this was not an instruction given by the government but it was done by the local administration and he has also assured that he would look into the matter and this thing would be revoked,” said Sangma.