Church Priest arrested for ‘forced conversion’

A Church father in the city was handed over to police by the Bajrang Dal activists on grounds of forced conversion, on Sunday, August 26.

According to a Hindu website news portal, 'Hindujagruti', Fr Edward–the accused, converted 40 easily deceived poor Hindu families and also offered false promises of monetary help, abroad jobs, and pledged to take care of needy children.

The converted Hindu families hailing from Bhyandar, Jogeshwari and Andheri areas in Mumbai City, were poor and in need. Taking advantage of the poverty, the Father asked the families to gather at a mass in Vidyavikas School in Andheri, where after conversion–certain facilities, will be provided, said Bajrang Dal activists

“Once the people got there, the Father asked them to take a dip in the sea so as to purify them. Later, he started making statements like ‘Your God is a devil. Only Jesus is the true Lord,’” complained the activists.

The activists who maltreated the priest handed him over to the Santa Cruz police station. A complaint was booked under 295–A and 508 for “deceit and bribery,” by the police.

The priest will be presented in Andheri Court for hearing.