Programme ends abruptly after protests

A programme organised under the banner of the New Life Fellowship Church (NLFC) on the Kalamandir premises had to be abruptly stopped here on Sunday.

The police dispersed both the organisers and the participants following protests by activists of the Sri Rama Sene, who suspected religious conversion by the Protestant Christian organisation.

A group of Sri Rama Sene workers, led by their city unit president Ramakant Konduskar and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Deepak Jamkhandi, entered the Kalamandir premises in Tilakwadi police station limits seeking to know the nature of the programme and its objective.

Soon, the police rushed to the spot and ensured that things did not go out of control.

Mr. Konduskar filed a complaint against the NLFC and the Belgaum City Corporation Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis for allowing such programmes on government premises.

Police sub-inspector Harishchandra said the programme was organised as part of Sunday prayers and there was no material to prove that NLFC was into religious conversion. Though the organisers produced bank receipt for the charges paid to the Belgaum City Corporation for the use of the Kalamandir, they had not obtained permission for organising the programme. Therefore, both the organisers and participants were asked to clear the hall.

Mr. Harishchandra said he had received a complaint from the Sri Rama Sene.