A videotape has gone viral on social media, wherein a group of non-Christians are seen being encouraged to convert to Christianity by pastors.
The clip, first shared by BJP leader Prabal Pratap Singh Judev, is assumed to be from the Rajpur block division in the Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh.
According to reports, on Wednesday, November 23, in the dead of night, a group of four missionaries were trying to convince weak and innocent Hindu villagers to adopt Christianity by offering various kinds of benefits such as money, medicines and the promise to revive their deceased family members.
When locals and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) members came to know about the incident, they went to the house where the illicit conversion was taking place, detained the four pastors, and handed them over to the police.
As per media reports, the incident took place in the village of Paharkhadwa in the Rajpur district of Balrampur. More than two dozen Hindus were assembled inside a house on Wednesday night. As part of the conversion agenda, the villagers were offered money, medicines and various other facilities. They were assured that their deceased family members would be revived within two days, and in exchange, they were encouraged to convert to Christianity.
A resident of the same area, Rajesh Yadav, alerted the members of the Yuva Morcha and Vigilance Group about this. The programme was stopped after a large number of people reached the location late at night. Later, the Rajpur police station was summoned, and the four accused, including a priest, were arrested. The police also recovered Christian books from the house where the conversion program was going on.
The police, who have registered a case and begun an investigation, stated that the village was in disorder for some time after the event.
In the video shared by BJP leader Prabal Pratap Singh Judev, several women and men are seen sitting on the ground while a man is seen preaching to them.
Suddenly, some protestors storm into the house and engage the facilitator. When they ask the facilitator to introduce himself and explain what’s going on, he begins arguing with the protestors. At this point, the villagers in the room respond by addressing the facilitator as a pastor.
The owner of the house where the conversion programme was held was also heard defending the accused.
The BJP leader lauded the Dharma Sainiks for the prompt action taken against the missionaries. He has also declared the appointment of Dharma Sainiks in every area, in addition to requesting severe action from the administration against the culprits. Prabal Pratap, who has labelled the people involved in the conversion as heretics, has advised them to get themselves insured.
The accused have been charged under Section 295-A of the IPC, accused were identified as Anil Kujur, Shisan Vashil Tigga, Dharamlal Tiki, and Jeevit Lal Tiki. This event sparked outrage among Hindu organisations, which have sought harsh punishment for the accused. The members of various Hindu groups have claimed that the man whose home was being used to conduct the conversion program is being pressurised to change his statement.
SDPO Ritesh Chaudhary has, meanwhile, assured the members of the Hindu outfits and locals that the perpetrators will be investigated and charged.
