Chhattisgarh: VHP seeks ban on private Churches after altercation over alleged attempt of conversion in Durg.

An altercation broke out between the two communities over an alleged attempt of illegal conversion in the Padmnabhpur area of the Durg district of Chhattisgarh, the incident occurred on Sunday morning, March 3 where members of both communities indulged in a verbal which later turned violent over alleged attempt of conversion in Oriya Basti near Raipur Naka.

According to the reports, the members of the Bajrang Dal had received information about a prayer meeting called in a Church in the Oriya Basti on Sunday, following which they reached the spot and lodged their protest against the said gathering, leading to an altercation with the people of the Christian community.

The workers of Bajrang Dal alleged that reports of illegal conversion in the name of prayer meetings through lure and inducement have been coming to them from the said region, hence, upon receiving information about such a gathering, they reached the spot and lodged their protest against the said meeting.

Though soon after the workers of Bajrang Dal started protesting against the gathering, they got involved in a scuffle with the members inside the Church leading to a violent altercation that resulted in minor injuries to a few people from both sides.

Meanwhile, upon receiving the information about the scuffle, officials of the police also reached the spot, who, while convincing both factions to keep restraints, also assured that a thorough investigation into the matter would be done. Its been further reported that additional deployments of security personnel have been made in view of avoiding any untoward incidents.

VHP, Bajrang Dal submits Memorandum

A day after the scuffle at the said church, Visva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal members also submitted a memorandum seeking an investigation of private churches in the district on Monday, March 4.

In the memorandum submitted to the DC, the Hindu activist alleged that illegal weapons, wood, and stones have been stored in these Churches, where conversion of members of Hindu community have been promoted by luring them with economic benefits. Further, it’s been alleged by the workers of Bajrang Dal that stones were pelted from inside the Church during the altercation that took place on Sunday.

Meanwhile, speaking to the correspondent of Organiser, Saurabh Dewangan, Jila Sanyojak (district Convener) of Bajrang Dal informed that “when we reached the spot and lodged our protest against the said gathering the members inside the Church started pelting stones on us.

“We have filed a written complaint pertaining to the incident, along with submitting a memorandum to the district collector as well. Our demand is clear that the administration should immediately act against the illegal Churches being operational in the Durg district. added Dewangan while asserting that the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) volunteers will continue their fight against such illegal activities.

Meanwhile, as per a report of Opindia, the secretary of the Masihi Samaj (A Christian body) Pastor Vinod has also labelled charges against 15-20 workers of Hindu outfits for attacking the people praying inside the Church.

Scuffle over conversion related issues

It is worth mentioning here that this is not the first time that a confrontation has occurred between the members of both communities over the issue of conversion, and such cases have kept emerging from separate corners of the state on a regular interval.

Recently in another case reported from Vasudevpur village of Kunkuri region of Jashpur district, a confrontation was reported between two faction of villagers over frequent visit of a pastor in a private premise in January this year.

According to the reports, the scuffle between the groups occurred after a villager identified as Naresh had questioned the frequent visits of a Pastor in the house of Majnu Mahto leading to alleged stone pelting by the latter. The clash between the groups resulted in injuries to a number of people from both sides.

Earlier, in another such case reported from Durg district itself, members of the two communities got into an altercation over an alleged attempt at conversion on February 13. According to the reports, the verbal confrontation between the members of the two communities escalated after the Hindu community members alleged the Christian group for organising religious events in an impermanent church being operated in the said area.

In a viral video pertaining to the incident, the members of the Hindu group were also seen asking the police personnel to take legal action against organising such religious events secretly and using the premises as Church.

Notably, the issue of illegal conversion in the State of Chhattisgarh has been grabbing attention for all the wrong reasons for a long time, and the incumbent State government has hinted that it may soon introduce a new law or amend the existing anti conversion law to contain the issue of illegal conversion.

This article is originally published on https://organiser.org/2024/03/05/225241/bharat/chhattisgarh/chhattisgarh-vhp-seeks-ban-on-private-churches-after-altercation-over-alleged-attempt-of-conversion-in-durg/