Kawardha/Kabirdham: Days after local Hindu activists staged a major protest near a house in Aadarsh Nagar locality, alleging conversion related activities being carried out by a couple, police have arrested an individual in connection with the case.
According to the report, the accused Josh Thomas was taken into custody and subsequently sent to jail after the police received a written complaint about the matter. Thomas was alleged to be involved in luring people into converting their religion by promising financial help and a cure from illness.
The accused, who runs a private school in the locality, was also reported to have been jailed previously for carrying out similar conversion-related activities and a complaint against him was also submitted before the collector recently.
Thomas was arrested after a resident of Kaarimati village of Pandatarai area submitted a written complaint against him alleging Thomas for luring people into illegal conversion during the Changai Sabha organised at the former’s residence on May 18.
Earlier on Sunday, local Hindu activists staged a major protest against a gathering called by Thomas and his wife aimed allegedly at illegal conversion. A purported video of the said incident also went viral on social media platforms where Hindu activists were seen indulged in a heated exchange of words with the organiser of the event.
The activists claimed that the couple has been long indulged in deceiving people in guise of providing them with miraculous treatment. They further have alleged the couple for luring people into conversion via inducement tactics and other illegal means.
The activists further raised suspicion that the place is being used to gather people from nearby villages for Chnagai Sabha aimed at conversion. They also demanded that the authorities should thoroughly investigate the CCTV footages of the place.
Learning about the incident, a police team soon reached the spot and tried calming the situation by interacting with both the groups. Later the police took a number of individuals to the police station and enquired them about the gathering.
Conversion through means of lure, providing cure from illnesses
Cases of illegal conversion through illegal means are keep surfacing from separate localities of the state, raising concern over rampant conversion related activities in areas largely inhabited by people from weaker economic sections.
Activists alleged that people associated with promoting illegal conversion often target sick individuals and people from weaker economic background, promising them free cure and various inducement ranging from jobs to free education for children. Such activities are often being carried out in the guise of Prarthana or the Changai Sabha organised at separate places.
Earlier, the Organiser on April 11 reported a similar incident from Bahatarai area of Bilaspur district where six individuals, including a pastor were arrested for allegedly attempting to convert local Hindus in Christianity under the pretext of a “Healing Meeting”.
The incident took place under the jurisdiction of Sarkanda police station where the accused were allegedly carrying out conversion related activities under the guise of a prayer meet. The accused individuals were later booked under section 3 of the ‘Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act’.
