A case has come to light from Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal, where missionaries were attempting to convert children to Christianity by enticing them with promises of better education, a higher quality of life, and a promising future. Following a complaint by a right-wing activist, the police have arrested five people, including Mary Bastawal, Mary Masih, and Suman Masih. A case has been registered against all of them under the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act.
On July 14 night, several women were going door-to-door in Anand Nagar, part of the Piplani area in Bhopal, distributing pamphlets. They enticed residents with promises of good education, a better future, and an improved lifestyle if they converted to Christianity. Dhanveer Singh Thakur, a resident of Kokta who runs a shop near Anand Nagar police station, witnessed this and promptly filed a complaint at the Piplani police station. He informed the police that while sitting with his friends in Shivnagar on Sunday evening, he observed these women distributing pamphlets.
Right-wing activist Dhanveer Singh Thakur stated that during this incident, one of the women also gave him a pamphlet and offered him Rs 20 lakh and financial assistance for his children’s education if he renounced his religion and converted to Christianity. After this, he contacted the Piplani police. Upon receiving the complaint, Sub-Inspector Santosh Raghuvanshi of Piplani police station immediately reached the scene and observed the women distributing pamphlets to the people.
Immediately after this, the police detained three women: Mary Bastawal, Mary Masih, and Suman Masih, while two others absconded and are currently being searched for. The two absconding accused have been identified as Chandrabhan and Badha Prasad. Action has been taken against all of them under the Anti-Conversion Law.
