NEW DELHI, Jan 3: Six members of the Bajrang Dal arrested for vandalising Christmas decorations at Magneto Mall in Raipur were given a “hero’s welcome” after securing bail from a Sessions Court on Wednesday.

After their release from Raipur Central Jail on Thursday, the men were greeted by Bajrang Dal supporters with garlands and religious chants, including “Raghu Pati Raghav Raja Ram”. To mark their release, a procession was held in which the six accused were carried on the shoulders of their supporters.

Defending the celebrations, Bajrang Dal state coordinator Rishi Mishra said there was nothing inappropriate about the procession. “What is wrong with raising slogans? The issue is linked to religious conversions in Chhattisgarh. All right-wing organisations had decided to call for a bandh, but a conspiracy led to our members being jailed. Naturally, slogans will be raised on this issue,” he said.

Earlier, a magistrate's court in Raipur had rejected their bail plea on December 29.

The arrests followed an incident on Christmas Eve, when right-wing groups had called for a statewide bandh in protest against alleged religious conversions in the state. On the same day, a mob armed with wooden sticks entered Magneto Mall, a popular commercial hub in the capital, and vandalised Christmas-themed decorations, including installations of Santa Claus, reindeer, sleighs and snowmen. Mall security personnel attempted to intervene but were unable to do so.

An FIR was registered later that night at the Telibandha police station against 30 to 40 unidentified persons under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to trespassing, intentional damage to property, causing hurt, rioting and unlawful assembly.

On December 27, police arrested the six accused and detained a minor in connection with the incident. The men remained in judicial custody for five days before being granted bail.

Following the arrests, around 300 Bajrang Dal workers staged a protest outside the Telibandha police station, blocking a major arterial road and disrupting traffic for nearly nine hours. No FIR has been registered in connection with the road blockade.

The Chhattisgarh Bandh on December 24, called by the Sarva Hindu Samaj, was reportedly triggered by a recent clash between two communities over the burial of a person from a converted family in Kanker district of the Bastar region.