Four Christians booked under anti-conversion law in Chhattisgarh

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.