Durg: Police on May 29 detained a number of individuals for allegedly promoting illegal conversion in Raipur Naka colony of Durg. The detained individuals were allegedly involved in luring people into conversion.
The action was taken after local Hindu activist complaint about a religious gathering being organised at a private house, aimed allegedly at converting people through inducement.
According to details, a Changai Sabha (a kind of religious gathering) was called at the house of Madhu Tandi in Raipur Naka colony under the jurisdiction of Padmanabhpur police station limits where a pastor and his associates were said to be enticing a number of local Hindus for conversion.
Upon receiving information about the gathering, members of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) reached near the premise and caught the accused red handed.
The VHP members then informed the police who subsequently detained the said pastor and others by arriving on the spot. The accused have been identified as pastor Mamta Dikshit and pastor Ribairo Williams.
According to activists, they were getting information regarding conversion related activities being promoted from the said premise for quite some time.
On receiving information from locals about a similar gathering on Thursday, the activist reached the spot and protested against the ongoing conversion activities. They also raised slogans and demanded strict action against the accused.
दुर्ग- धर्मांतरण के आरोप में बजरंग दल के कार्यकर्ताओं ने किया बवाल, घर में चल रही थी प्रार्थना सभा, एक पास्टर को पुलिस ने हिरासत में लिया है#Durg #BreakingNews #ChhattisgarhNews pic.twitter.com/8jzGR2fwwW
— News18 MadhyaPradesh (@News18MP) May 30, 2025
One of the activist also submitted a written complaint with the police, alleging that the accused were enticing people to embrace Christianity.
Row over demolition of under construction Hanuman temple in Raigarh
In other news, police on Wednesday detained 6 individuals after a major row erupted over demolition of a under construction temple in Raigarh district.
According to reports, Nirmal Sarthi, a resident of Bhatanpali reportedly ran over the temple with a JCB, enraging the locals. The incident occurred hours before the pran-pratistha ceremony of the said temple which was scheduled for May 28.
Sarthi who has now embraced Christianity had once donated money for the construction of the temple. He also had opposed the construction of the church in the village.
Sarthi however started visiting the local Church after he fell ill and subsequently embraced Christianity on the advice of an Odisha based pastor.
After embracing Christianity, Sarthi started opposing the temple and eventually demolished it with a JCB. His son was too reportedly involved in the demolition act.
The development enraged the locals Hindus who gathered near the spot and staged a strong protest. One of the protestors later broke the cross of the Church situated right in front of the temple. He was later arrested by the police. The matter is further being investigated by the authorities.
