Lucknow: Hindutva militant organisation, the Bajrang Dal, has yet again created a ruckus over suspicion of conversions by a pastor in Kashiram Colony of Kanpur. The pastor was allegedly beaten by the Bajrang Dal members on Sunday over rumours of conversion that were being circulated in the area. No FIR has been filed in the case.
As reported in The Indian Express, the pastor, Raju Prasad, was beaten up and then handed over to the police who said he was neither thrashed nor tried to convert anyone. It is significant to note that the matter was resolved without filing an FIR.
Station House Officer of Chakeri police station, Ranjeet Rai, said, “The preliminary investigation suggested that a woman had called the pastor and two women to offer prayer for her ailing mother at her house. She told us that her mother was recovering due to the prayer. She and the pastor denied conversion.” Rai further added that the woman has been warned not to call people for prayer.
Two months ago, the same militant outfit had stalled a Christian event over allegations of forced conversions in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Kanpur’s Bajrang Dal Mahanagar Sahyojak Piyush Singh claimed, “For the past few days, we have been getting complaints of conversion in that area. On Sunday, we were told that some people had come to a house in Kashiram Colony and were converting people. We reached the spot and saw two women distributing religious book to a family. We took the pastor to police station. There was a minor scuffle when he objected to being taken to the police station.”
This story first appeared on Sabrang India on July 30, 2019 here.