Groups working to stop Satanic worship

TURA, APR 21: Alarmed at the increasing number of Satanic worshippers among the youths in Garo hills, Christian groups are working to quell its growth after reports that several teenagers had taken up devil worship.

At least 26 teenagers, in the age group of 13 – 18 years are undergoing counseling at different churches in Tura. A report prepared by groups working to curb the practice of Satanic or cult worship said that there are several young groups in Tura and Williamnagar, who are engaged in such worship.

The cult worship was first reported from Matchakolgre locality in Tura last week. Following which a vigilance committee was been formed.

Salinder Marak, secretary of Matchakolgre Development Committee said, “We are terribly 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 counseling”.

Marak informed that recently a group of ten boys were found making an attempt to write on the walls. He said, “I feel that cult worship is spreading like “wildfire” due to an identity crisis among the youth”.

Marak informed that West Garo hills SP Mukesh Singh has extended support in checking the practice. “The police are regularly patrolling the graveyards in different localities.”

The actual strength of Satan worshippers is difficult to determine, but such groups exist in Tura and Williamnagar town and 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 counseling.

“Some of the Christian youth who have renounced Satan worship have told us that they are 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 informed that the parents of numerous youngsters have expressed concerns over 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,” she said.

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 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”. He said 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 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 that the youngsters are getting into cult worship, as many have been misguided.  He was of the opinion that they youths got such practice from elsewhere as it was not prevalent in the region.

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 use 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.

A church leader, who did not wish to be quoted, described this phenomenon as ‘invasion on churches in Garo hills’.- By Our Reporter