The Satna district police have arrested a local member of the right-wing Bajrang Dal on charge of setting fire to a vehicle used by a priest and seminarians.
The priest and seminarians were detained when they were on carol singing for the Christmas season on a complaint by Dharmendra Dohar, 21, a resident of Bhumkahar village, who alleged that some people were asking him to convert to Christianity.
“We have produced a person before the magistrate in connection with the incident in which a car was set on fire in the Civil Lines police station area,” Kamlesh P., head constable, said over telephone.
The police have lodged a case under Section 435 against unidentified persons who set a vehicle (MP 19 CB 6701), parked very close to the Civil Lines police station, on fire.
According to the police, the arrested person, Vikas Shukla, is a resident of Khamu Khuja locality, who reportedly set the vehicle afire. Mr. Shukla was later released on bail.
On Thursday, on the basis of a complaint lodged by Mr. Dohar, Father M. George and a group of 30 seminarians were detained during the routine carol singing. In his complaint, Mr. Dohar alleged that some people were appealing him to convert. The police have registered a case against Father George and five others under Sections 153 (B), 295 (A).
Eight priests who went to inquire about the detained priest and seminarians were also taken into custody. Later, a vehicle parked outside the police station was torched by unidentified people. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has strongly condemned the violent attack on priests and seminarians.On Friday, the Satna police produced Father George and the priests from St. Ephrem’s Theological College before the magistrate. Father George was released on bail the same day.
