Christian arrested in Madhya Pradesh on false charges

Hindu fundamentalists and police officers have reportedly forced a person in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh to file a false complaint against his Christian neighbor, based on which the police raided the Christian's home and had him arrested.

According to Compass, Meera Bai's neighbour, Sukhdev had filed a complaint that Bai had pressurized him to become a Christian. Based on the complaint, the police swung into action, arresting Bai and registering a case against her under the anti–conversion law before releasing her on bail.

Upon Bai's release, Sukhdev visited Bai at her home and disclosed that some members of the Hindu extremist outfit, Dharma Sena, and some police officials had allegedly coerced him to file the false complaint against her, Compass quoted her as saying.

"He said he was eating a meal when some Dharma Sena people, along with policemen, came to his house, took him away forcibly and made him give a statement against me," Bai recalled.

In the coerced complaint, Sukhdev told police that Bai had taken him to a Christian healing meeting held regularly at Jabalpur in order to heal a stomach ailment. He further alleged that Bai had offered to pay him Rs. 2,000 every month if he became a Christian.

Acting on this complaint, some 20–25 policemen raided Bai's home in the Ranjhi area of Jabalpur late at night, confiscating Bibles and pictures of Jesus Christ from Bai's house. They also took Bai, along with her son and some other guests to the police station for questioning.

According to Bai, Dharma Sena activists had formed a large crowd near the police station and were shouting anti–Christian slogans when they arrived there.

"They threatened us in front of the police, who laughed and cooperated with them," Bai said. "The Dharma Sena people were openly saying Christians should be kicked to death."

According to witnesses, one Dharma Sena activist, Yogesh Agarwal, even threatened to burn them alive in front of the police.

"Yet the police did nothing," Meera Bai told Compass. "They only said, 'Don't panic – at least he has not burned you now.'"

The police, after interrogating the Christians intensively, made them sign on bank documents and also encouraged people to file complaints against Bai and her companions. Sukhdev was also brought to the police station and ordered to sign a document, Bai recalled.

Finally Bai was released on a bail bond of Rs. 5000 and a warning not to carry out further 'conversion' activities in the region.

According to Compass, an official at the Ranjhi police station subsequently acknowledged that the evidence against Meera Bai was weak as the police could only recover Bibles and a few pictures of Jesus Christ from her house.

However, Agarwal is convinced that Bai as well as other Christians in the region are all engaged in forcible conversion that has "reached alarming levels in the state."

"The common man has become wise and alert to the tactics and deceptions of the missionaries," Compass quoted Agarwal as saying. "Every day, I receive more than 25 phone calls from people complaining of activities of conversions taking place."

"Conversions must be stopped, not just in this state but all over India," he added.