Bilaspur: In a shocking development, a pastor and his wife were booked by the police after two people lodged a complaint against the duo, accusing them for intimidating people for changing their religion and embracing Christianity in Bilaspur of Chhattisgarh.
According to a media report, Uttara Kumar Sahu and Rameshwar Sahu, both residents of Sambalpur village has filed a complaint against pastor Santosh Moses and his wife Anu Moses for allegedly pressurising them to change their religion.
The complainants have alleged both pastor and his wife for intimidating them with bad fortunes if they refuse to convert. In his complaint submitted at Sakri police station, Uttara has alleged that the accused couple reached their village on Sunday and pressurise him to convert.
After receiving the application, the police have registered an FIR against pastor Santosh and his wife under relevant section of Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act 1968. The matter is being investigated by the officials.
According to an investigative report, similar attempts are also being made at separate other pockets of the city to lure and convert people. The missionaries are reportedly targeting slum areas, where they are precisely approaching family members of habitual drinkers and people with ailments, promising them with cure.
They are targeting women and promising them to treat their husbands by offering prayers. After securing their trust the missionaries asked them to convert, discloses the report.
The missionaries further pressurise them to remove the idols and pictures of Hindu god/goddess from their house. They even asked them to remove the tiles having a painting or picture of Hindu god/goddess.
The newly converts are also being taken to picnics, more often at the time of Hindu festivals to keep them away from worship and following traditional rituals, claims the report further. They (missionaries) are using various other tricks such as offering lucrative jobs, free education to children, etc. to lure people.
Notably, cases of conversion through means of lure and inducement have keep coming to the fore from separate areas of the state, often leading to scuffles between missionaries and local Hindu activists.
Activist working against illegal conversion alleged that the missionaries often target people from weaker economical section, luring them with money, job and other lucrative offers to embrace Christianity. They also alleged them to spread fallacy about Sanatan dharma.
Notably the state of Chhattisgarh is believed to be badly affected by the menace of illegal conversion, especially the tribal dominated pockets of the state in Bastar and Surguja division.
