Assam Police took action against two US nationals, John Matthew Bone and Michael James Flinchum, in Sonitpur district for allegedly propagating Christianity. The incident occurred in the Tezpur area following complaints from local residents.
Sonitpur SP Susanta Biswa Sarma stated that the duo, who were on tourist visas, were fined $500 each for attempting to propagate Christianity without proper permission. According to Sarma, tourist visa regulations prohibit individuals from engaging in religious activities or spreading religious ideologies. As a result, the police imposed fines on the individuals to address the violation.
While the police detained the US nationals and fined them, no formal case has been registered against them.
This incident follows a similar occurrence in October 2022 when seven German nationals and three Swedish nationals were detained in Golaghat and Dibrugarh districts of upper Assam for allegedly violating visa norms by participating in missionary activities.
The recent detention highlights the strict enforcement of visa regulations concerning religious activities in Assam. Authorities continue to monitor and take action against individuals found violating these regulations.
