Rajasthan: At least 20 people were injured during forcefully religion conversion

Accused of offering five lakhs for conversion...

When a group of Hindus forcefully converted their religion, during a Christian prayer service at Pilbanga in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh, at least 20 people were injured in a clash that broke out, on Sunday police said and added both sides have lodged cases.

One Pramod Mawar lodged a complaint including under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) against Harbans Lal Singh of the Ankur Narula Monastery Organisation (Jalandhar) and the organiser of the prayer service for allegedly forcing Hindus and Sikhs to convert.

Mawar accused Singh of offering him ₹five lahks for conversion on Sunday. In his complaint, he also accused Singh of making casteist comments when Marwar declined the offer

Singh filed a police complaint against Mawar and others for allegedly creating a ruckus at their programme.

He alleged a group of around 200-300 masked people carrying rods forcefully entered the venue of the programme and attacked the devotees there. They allegedly tore the Bible and left around 20 people injured.

One person, Samuel Masih, who was critically injured, was hospitalised.

Mohan Lal, a sub-inspector at the Pilbanga police station, said they have arrested seven people from both communities.

“A few people belonging to Hindu groups have been staging a sit-in in front of the police station demanding the release of their men. We have deployed an extra police force in the area to ensure peace. We are investigating the matter.”