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AIZAWL, India, 1 September 2000 (Newsroom) -- Religious leaders
in the predominantly Christian state of Mizoram have asked police
to investigate recent incidents of Satan worship involving teenagers,
a trend that some officials blame on television shows about the
paranormal and the occult.
"This is not good for our society or any society,"
said the Reverend Vanalalrhuajwa of the Presbyterian Church Synod
in Mizoram.
The sudden rise in popularity of devil worship in the last
three months so alarmed parents and teenagers that Presbyterian
elders asked four faculty members at Aizawl Theological College
to study the problem. Their report appeared to confirm the fears
of church leaders, who then asked police to intervene.
One church elder who asked not to be named described an incident
where high school boys and girls formed a circle in a cemetery
late at night, chanting invocations to Satan. In the center of
the circle was a monkey skull with the inscription ``Natas Si
Dog'' -- ``God is Satan," in reverse. Police said the students
then slashed their wrists in a ritual offering of blood.
Aizawl police Superintendent Zorammawaaia said the phenomenon
has taken authorities by surprise because the population in this
tiny, northeastern state is about 90 percent Christian, primarily
Presbyterian. Like many Indians, the police superintendent goes
by a single name.
Police do not know how many students may be involved, but
Zorammawaaia suggested that the Satan worshipers probably are
influenced by television shows about witchcraft and other black
magic.
About 25 million homes in India have cable television, which
gives them access to programs such as "The X Files,"
the American show about FBI agents who investigate paranormal
and unexplained incidents, and Indian programs such as "Aahat,"
"Anhonee" and "Woh."
Producers of programs such as "Aahat," for example,
say they are emphasizing the supernatural over more traditional
horror themes because that is what audiences want. They also
are targeting younger children. For example, in one episode of
"Aahat" a doll that is possessed by an evil spirit
persuades a young girl to trade places, then refuses to relinquish
the girl's body. The show received the highest ratings ever for
a television show in India and was the topic of conversation
in schools for days afterward.
"We are just entertaining the people for 25 minutes,"
"Aahat" producer Pradeep Upoor said in defense of the
show. "Once you tune in to our program it won't let you
go. Just like the doll."
In a Hindu culture that believes in reincarnation, shows that
depict people who come back to life to exact revenge have great
appeal, according to psychiatrist Harish Shetty.
"When horror shows show the victim wreaking vengeance
after he/she dies, it appeals to the primitive emotions of human
beings," he said. "The children enjoy it. They are
scared but, like their parents, they are excited by life after
life."
Not everyone shares that excitement, however. One 7-year-old
girl wrote to the High Court describing how "Aahat"
scared her. In Delhi, a city court observed that some "horror
serials" were detrimental to the mental health of children.
"We need to teach these young people and ensure they
do not indulge in these kinds of weird religious practices,"
the Reverend Vanalalrhuajwa insisted. [Source: http://www.newsroom.org/
] |