Swedish nationals fined for violating norms by preaching Christianity in Assam

Assam Police said that since they were in India on tourist visas, the preaching of Christianity was a violation of visa norms

Updated on: Oct 27, 2022, 08:22:47 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Three Swedish nationals have been fined for allegedly violating visa norms by preaching Christianity in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, police said.

Police said the three arrived in India on October 19. (Twitter)

Police said that Marcus Arne Henrik Bloom, Hannah Mikaela Bloom, and Susana Elisabeth Hakanason arrived in India on October 19 and travelled to Assam on October 24.

“We were informed that they were involved in missionary activities and were preaching at a church in Namrup. Based on that we collected photo and video evidence and found the allegation to be true,” said Dibrugarh Police superintendent Shwetank Mishra.

Mishra added that since they were in India on tourist visas, it was a violation of visa norms. “It was also found that they violated ...the Foreigners Act. Based on that, they were apprehended [on Wednesday],” he said.

Mishra added that as per existing provisions for the violation of visa norms, the three were fined $500 each before they were allowed to go.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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