Members of the Hindu outfit foiled an alleged attempt of conversion in Bhilai after they identified a pastor for allegedly promoting conversion in the name of cake cutting programmes in separate parks in the town.
According to the details received, members of Bajrang Dal, upon receiving information, reached a park in Sector 8 of Bhilai on Sunday, February 11 and thwarted the pastor’s attempt to promote conversion. The Bajrang Dal members later handed over the pastors to the police and also submitted a memorandum against the pastor.
The said pastor has been identified as Ajay Rin, who has been accused of luring people into conversion by inviting them to cake cutting programmes at separate places. Its been learned that the said pastor organised a similar birthday programme in another park of the town last week. He was also reported to be arrested by the police in a case related to illegal conversion in Durg a couple of years back.
Speaking to the correspondent of Organiser, Ravi Nigam, Vibhag Sanyojak of the Bajrang Dal informed that the said pastor has been organising birthday celebrations in separate places across the town where only female residents of different localities of the town are invited.
“He has been active in the town for quite some time, he had organised a similar program in jubilee park of sector-6, this week he has organised a programme in sector-8, we immediately reached the spot upon receiving information and made sure that action is being taken against him”, added Nigam.
They (Pastors like Ajay Rin) have created a new syndicate. Earlier, they used to visit households to promote conversions, but now they target women from the marginalised section and invite them for birthday celebrations. They also arrange gifts for children in tiffin boxes. Most of the women invited in such programs are Hindu women, informed Ravi Nigam further.
They set a target for a week and then identify and invite the women for the celebration, where they lure and motivate the attendees to learn more about Christianity. They don’t reveal their motive in public, but they do promote conversion, as informed by the women who had been a part of such celebrations, claimed Nigam.
It is to be noted that cases pertaining to illegal conversion have been keep coming to the fore from separate regions of Chhattisgarh at regular intervals, often triggering sharp reactions from the local Hindu community. The regular emergence of such cases has also contributed to the growing demand of stringent provisions against promotion of illegal conversion in the state.
Earlier, in another case reported from the northern region of the State, as many as five people were detained by the police on charges of promoting conversion in Balrampur town. The incident came to light when one of the residents of Ward No. 3 visited a gathering called in the house of one of his neighbours on January 29 where people from the neighbouring state of Jharkhand were also invited.
It’s been alleged that the said people who have arrived from Jharkhand started showing Sanatan Dharma in bad light as soon as the programme commenced; they further also started highlighting the benefits of praying in Changai Sabha, the speakers were also allegedly luring the people with money to embrace Christianity and promote conversion.
Upon receiving the information about the gathering, members of the Vishva Hindu Mahasangh soon gathered at the spot and halted the programme following which a police team also reached the spot and detained as many as five people, including the owner of the house where the programme was organised.
