Kanpur, 17 Nov: Four persons, including two pastors, have been arrested in Ghatampur, in Kanpur, for suspected forced religious conversion. Locals believe they were promised money, marriage assurance, and assistance in building a house for conversion.
A case was registered when Ishu Awasthi filed a complaint alleging that a preacher named Rajesh Sunare sought to convert him to Christianity. Sunare promised Awasthi a job in exchange for joining the church, according to his complaint. The preacher also offered to arrange his marriage. Awasthi refused and went to the police.
“It has been stated that a specific church is employing unscrupulous measures to encourage religious conversion,” said Joint Commissioner of Police Anand Prakash Tiwari. ?We have initiated an inquiry and are questioning persons of interest. We’re attempting to figure out if the people were converted unfairly or voluntarily,” he added.
The four accused, including two priests, have fled after the complaint was filed against them.
Another supposed preacher, Jagram, has gone missing with his family. According to locals, Jagram moved here roughly ten years ago. Jagram allegedly held prayer groups at his home and began exhorting individuals to convert to Christianity.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Dal workers have said that if no real action is taken against the guilty in the case, they will protest.
