Alleging conversion of poor Hindu people into Christianity, activists of Bajrang Dal on Sunday reportedly attacked and vandalised a Christian prayer building in Jehanabad district of Bihar. The incident created panic among the small Christian community of the district town.
The police said about 50 Bajrang Dal activists raided a Christian prayer house in Madhav Nagar locality of the town and allegedly attacked some people and ransacked furniture. The protesters were also alleging that poor Hindu people were lured to convert to Christianity inside the building by a few people there.
“A case has been lodged in this connection and two people have been taken into custody,” said Ansuiya Ransingh Sahu, Superintendent of Police of Jehanabad.
On Monday, activists of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad had gathered near the town police station on Monday to pressure the police to release the two detained persons.
According to local people, prayer meet was being held every Sunday at the Christian building for the last six years. There is a very small group of about 1,000 Christian population in the district town area.
After allegedly thrashing people and vandalising chairs, tables and musical instruments, the activists later blocked the National Highway-83 demanding action against pastor Kamlesh of the Christian Bhawan [building].
Meanwhile, pastor Kamlesh has denied that anything related with conversion was going on at the Christian building. “It was a regular Sunday prayer,” he told The Hindu .
Koreans artists flee
In another incident, a team of Korean cultural group had to hurriedly flee from the Pibodhna village under Daniyawan block of Masaurhi in Patna district on Sunday when it was rumoured that they too were appealing the poor Mahadalit inhabitants to convert to Christianity.
One of them, Shyam Dev Ravidas, said to be Christian had allegedly invited the cultural troupe to the village.
However, when the police officials reached the village, the Korean artists had left. “It was just a cultural group performing in the village…there is absolutely no tension in the village,” a police official said.
Published - January 13, 2015 12:00 am IST
