More than a week has passed without any arrests after a group of Hindutva activists violently disrupted a Christian prayer meeting in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, leaving the local community shaken and demanding justice.
On Sunday, July 14, a group of right-wing fundamentalists from various Hindutva groups forcibly entered a private residence, assaulted those present, and vandalized the property.
According to reports, the attack occurred at the home of 35-year-old Deeksha Paul, who was conducting weekly prayers with her family, a relative, and neighbours. The gathering was suddenly interrupted when a mob, allegedly led by Devendra Dobhal, who claims to be a former army man and RSS functionary on his Facebook profile, barged into the house.
Eyewitnesses report that the intruders accused the group of forced religious conversions, a claim vehemently denied by the victims and later dismissed by the police. The attackers reportedly made derogatory remarks against the Christian faith, assaulted at least seven individuals, including women and children, and vandalised the prayer room and bedroom.
Deeksha Paul, recounting the harrowing experience to the media, stated, "When they kept banging on our door, I finally opened it and asked them what's the matter. And without even talking to me, they just barged inside and started accusing us of religious conversion." She added that despite her attempts to engage in a dialogue, the mob refused to listen and instead began shouting and making offensive remarks about their faith.
The assailants destroyed religious symbols, including a cross, podium, and damaged musical equipment and a laptop. Their actions were caught on videos that were shared on social media.
The accused, Devendra Dobhal, posted on his Facebook profile about the incident, claiming, "A conspiracy to convert Hindus was going on by setting up a church in the house at Veer Vishal Thapa Marg, Navada, Dehradun. Hindu activists and local community exposed the racket of converting Hindus to Christians and rescued the converted sister and her children and handed them over to their family members." (loosely translated)
Paul's husband, Rajesh Bhoomi, a pastor who owns an eatery in Haridwar, was not present during the incident. He later reported that the attackers had also targeted the children, slapping their heads and warning them against participating in future Sunday prayers.
The mob's actions were particularly traumatic for the young children present, including Paul's one-year-old daughter and six-year-old son, as well as the two- and five-year-old children of their tenants.
Local authorities have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 11 individuals at the Nehru Colony police station. The accused have been identified as Devendra Dobhal, Bijendra Thapa, Sadhir Thapa, Sanjeev Paul, Sudhir Paul, Dhirendra Dhobal, Arman Dhobal, Aryaman Dhobal, Anil Hindu, Bhupesh Joshi, and Bijendra. They face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including voluntarily causing hurt, rioting, deliberately outraging religious feelings, destruction of property, trespass, threat, and intentional insult.
Satbir Singh, the investigating officer at Nehru Colony police station, confirmed to the media that no religious conversion was taking place at the house. He stated, "People from Hindutva outfits have misbehaved with the family members and vandalised their house."
The police have registered the FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 115(2) for voluntarily causing hurt, 191(2) for rioting, 299 for deliberately outraging religious feelings, 324(4) for destruction of property, 333 for trespass, 351(2) for threat and 352 for intentional insult.
Vikas Verma, the Dehradun head of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), acknowledged that some of the accused were members of Hindutva outfits. He defended their actions, claiming they were voluntary efforts to curb alleged rising cases of religious conversion in the state.
However, investigating officer Satbir Singh emphasised that even if there were suspicions of religious conversion, the appropriate course of action would have been to approach the police rather than take matters into their own hands.
The police have stated that they are investigating the matter and a charge sheet will be filed soon.
The incident has also brought attention to the plight of Jyoti Thapa, a tenant living in Deeksha Paul's house. Speaking to a media source, Thapa clarified to the media, "I am living here on rent, and my husband lives elsewhere. I was sitting with them of my own free will. Anyone can check my account. I have not undergone any religious conversion. We are scared."
Deeksha Paul further elaborated on the mob's behaviour, stating, "They said that people from our faith drink blood and our women do not apply sindoor. I told them that whatever I do in my personal life is none of your business." She also mentioned that the attackers threw their laptop on the floor before entering and vandalising their bedroom.
The attack has left the Christian community in Dehradun feeling vulnerable. Deeksha Paul expressed their ongoing fears, saying, "We are forced to live under the shadow of fear. No arrests have been made yet despite our complaint to the police."
