Shahjahanpur, January 4: The Uttar Pradesh police have booked five people, including two Dalit men, under the sections of the anti-conversion law for allegedly pursuing a man for converting to Christianity. The incident, which took place in Shahjahanpur city, came to light after right-wing activists claimed to have caught them with a bible when they were reciting prayers.
Nearly 15 people were “lured with a job and a house” to adopt Christianity, said a person who was asked to convert the religion, reported Times of India. According to police, two accused named in the First Information Report (FIR) hail from Tamil Nadu, but presently they are living in Shahjahanpur.
The accused claimed that they were spreading the message of the Bible, but cops “overlooked their statements.” Meanwhile, a probe has been launched into the matter. An FIR has been registered under the relevant sections of UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance.
In a similar incident last week, three people were arrested for forcing villagers in Azamgarh to adopt Christianity. As per the reports, cops took the action after they were tipped-off that locals were paid to convert to Christianity.
The UP anti-conversion law prohibits any religious conversion, either directly or indirectly by use or practice of misrepresentation, undue influence, force, coercion or by marriage. It makes such action of conversion a non-bailable offence.
