Due to the efforts of Bajrang Dal and Nabhadas Sabha, all the Hindus who had converted to Christianity because of certain inducements, returned to their original faith during an Atamshudhikaran ceremony (Home Coming) programme at Kathua in Jammu. Amidst havan and chanting of Vedic mantras, the 42 families who were converted to Christianity returned to Hinduism. The organisers distributed lockets of Om and Bajrang Dal scarfs among the returned people who reiterated their firm belief in Hinduism and accused the Christian missionaries of misguiding them against their own religion. Speaking on the occasion, district convener of the Bajrang Dal, Shri Divakar Sharma described the day as very auspicious for the Hindus. He also warned the Christian missionaries against converting Hindus. Besides several prominent persons, a large number of people from the adjoining areas also attended the function and celebrated the occasion by greeting each other.
Border districts of Kathua and Rajouri were tense following the reports of activities of Christian missionaries who were allegedly inciting innocent and poor people there for conversion to Christianity.
?Under their well-planned modus operandi, the Christian missionaries target the villages, particularly far off and those, which are inhabited by socially backward and poor people. They trap the innocent villagers by offering them financial help and ensuring a better future if they embrace Christianity?, disclosed Bansi (a former agent of the Christian missionaries in Kathua) during Atamshudhikaran programme.
During the last two months, a few cases had come into light when the poor and illiterate villagers in border belts were converted into Christianity. Though the exact number of such people has not yet been confirmed, sources said that the district administration as well as intelligence wing of the state police has started investigations in this regard and list of such cases is being prepared.
The major source of attracting innocent people who were not in a position to get their treatment done in view of financial constraints is the Changaee Sabha (Healing Prayer Meeting), where the missionaries claim to heal the ailing persons with prayers and a spiritual touch. In these prayer meetings, some agents of the Christian missionaries pretend themselves as an ailing person and after getting a ?healing touch? they turn well and thus befool the innocent villagers.
When a victim gets trapped in their tricks, these Christian missionaries take him/her to neighbouring Punjab state where formal conversion of the person from Hinduism to Christianity is done.
As per police, at least five to eight Christian missionaries were engaged in the conversion campaign in Kathua district only. These missionaries had also engaged some agents for the purpose. The help of some girls was also taken in approaching people and facilitating the conversion.
For the last two months in Khokhyal and Jakhbarh villages of the Kathua district Christian missionaries were instrumental in trapping the innocent villagers and inviting them in the healing meeting.
The alleged conversion activities had triggered a reaction among the Hindu organisations in Jammu and Kashmir who had taken strong notice of the activities of Christian missionaries and launched a retaliatory action against the persons involved in conversion.
The Hindu organisations had also warned the Christian missionaries to desist from their conversion programme. On September 3, Father Anthony and his followers were even thrashed by some Bajrang Dal activists when the former was organising a healing prayer meeting at his residence in Kathua. The Bajrang Dal alleged that Father Anthony was seducing innocent people through his healing meetings and they had repeatedly warned him to stop his anti-Hindu activities.
While in Rajouri, the local police arrested four agents of the Christian missionaries who were involved in conversion activities.
