Four Christians have been arrested on fabricated charges in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. The incident once again stands a glaring example of the misusage of anti-conversion bill that has past made church see red.
According to the All India Christian Council (aicc) and Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), four Christians from the Bhilai Brethren Church were arrested after Hindutva fanatics filed a complaint against them of forcible conversion on April 15.
The fanatics allegedly from the Bajrang Dal and Dharam Sena (Religious Army) attacked the Christians while they were distributing gospel tracts around 8.30 in the morning.
They culled a crowd of people and started verbally abusing and beating the Christians with their lathis. The victims have suffered cuts and wounds on their bodies.
Among the injured is a Christian police officer who went to investigate the matter after the false complaint of ‘conversion'.
"After hearing the news about attack on Christians, Mr. G. Samuel, who is a local Christian police, went to the spot to find out the matter. He is also framed with false allegation of forceful conversion along with those who were attacked and latter arrested," aicc reported.
The Christians have been arrested under Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act 1968 with non-bailable charges. They were also booked under sections 294, 323, 341, and 334.
Chhattisgarh is one of five states where anti-conversion law is in force. The bill although is aimed at curbing conversions made by “force”, “fraud” or “allurement", has been on many occasions misused to arrest and imprison Christians on cooked up charges.
Arun Panalal, President of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, meanwhile, called on Christians in Chhattisgarh to protest against the attack and demand the earliest release of the arrested.
Hundreds of Christians in Raipur and other parts of Chhattisgarh reportedly have come out in protest and submitted memorandum to District Collector of Raipur.
Taking serious note of the incident, aicc said it would bail out the arrested and submit a memorandum to National Commission for Minorities and Human Rights Commission.
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power in Chhattisgarh since December 2003.
Nation
Four Christians booked under anti-conversion law in Chhattisgarh
By: Dibin Samuel
Saturday, 17 April 2010, 14:57 (IST)
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Have your say on this article
Added: Saturday, 17 April 2010, 16:38 (IST)
This is what you call glaring example Mr Dibin? What about them distributing tracts which you wrote. What do you call that? Without provocations, I doubt if any activist there would have decided to attack the Christians. May be you should go down there to where it happened and get real witnesses to speak, that is when you will know who is on the wrong.
Ram , Delhi, India
Added: Saturday, 17 April 2010, 16:55 (IST)
Dear Ram, Chhattisgarh is not the first time seeing such incidents. There has been scores of them that resulted in pastors being fined and imprisoned for three years or more under the so called ironical "Freedom of Religion Bill". By the way, you need a brush up of our Constitution. Distributing pamphlets is not a crime or banned. Article 25 of our Constitution succinctly guarantees that every person in India shall have the freedom of conscience and shall have the right to profess, practise and propagate religion. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right. The highlight here however is "falsely" charging religious with framed charges. Just curious, does not the Hare Krishna group distribute pamphlets and books intensively in cities like Bangalore? You can even see them in railway stations, bus stations...even near cafeterias..
Sammy, India
Added: Saturday, 17 April 2010, 18:22 (IST)
Nobody is right and nobody is wrong in this incident. Ram has a point talking about provocations but Ram whom are you calling activist? Those hefty rowdies carrying swords and attacking people instead of law takings its course? How about we call them fanatics lol.. And Sammy please do not justify wrong in the name of freedom of religion. It is a fundamental right, agreed, but that does not mean destroying others right of not listening to the speaker. Right becomes a right when it is applied right.
Right or Wrong, Bhilai
Added: Sunday, 18 April 2010, 7:20 (IST)
What they did is not right, falsely accusing of conversion by presenting false witness. Mahatma Gandhi has preached non-violence. They can hurt the body but cannot destroy the soul. India is a country with many religion. Every body has the right to religious freedom.
Phil, shoredam
Added: Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 10:37 (IST)
very sad to see this happening in a vast and democratic country like India. These laws were made to protect those who are forced or conned into accepting another religion. The New Testament saint, Stephen, when he was stoned, cried out to God, saying, " forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Lay not this charge upon them." Lets pray for the oppressors, that they may know Christ (John 3:16) and for the heroes of faith who have been jailed and beaten up for the sake of the Gospel of Christ.
Benjamin Anthony, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Added: Friday, 23 April 2010, 0:36 (IST)
Fundamental rights are not 'right' or 'wrong' but they are laid down by our Constitution to be adhered by educated/uneducated people of India. However in an 'anti-conversion bill' state like chhattisgarh, its the risk - that the christians are distributing religious literature - that will be lauded by fellow christians. However correspondingly, hindus 'according to the law of the state' are free to resent on such an act. The problem here is since 'Christians' are peace loving and humanly kind and not 'fanatic' type, there has always been the extra bit of angst and violence that they are hit by, because its taken for granted that they will not retaliate with guns and lathis like other 'senas'. For e.g. The wrath of the bajrang dal on the 1000s of innocent Christ believers in Orissa (Kandhamal). The visible action will always be against the christians in a country like India. But the almighty God Lord Jesus Christ, who is 1000 times more benovalent, kind, loving, just then his followers and haters will prevail one day as he is watching and will strike out his enemies in due course of time. Presently his fanatic followers (followers of fundamental rights) continue to pay for their faith with their innocent lives. Best part is Jesus knows it all, as he suffered the harshest punishment for loving others - crucification.
Joshua Arpit Nath, New Delhi (India)
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