Arrests Made After Hindus Are Forced to Convert to Christianity

Financial inducements were supposedly offered

The police in Uttar Pradesh arrested Brahmanand and Mann Singh after Shivkumar Singh, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) filed a complaint for forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity[/tweetit]. The arrest was made on the basis that the accused duo was hurting religious sentiments. The arrests were made in Amroha district where the complaint was filed. Brahmanand and Mann Singh are 30 and 40 years old respectively.

Arrests Made after Hindus are Forced to Convert to Christianity[/tweetthis]

The police station in Hasanpur admitted a First Information Report (FIR) on December 30 against five named in the complaint. Charges were filed as per the IPC Sections 295A and 153A. The 295A deals with deliberate acts and malicious intents, done to outrage the religious feelings through insulting religious beliefs or religion itself. The 153A deals with the promotion of enmity between dissimilar groups on the basis of language, religion, place of birth, and race among others.

The complaint made by Shivkumar Singh mentions a total of five persons. Among them, only two were arrested. As per the complaint, the five had asked locals to gather on the same spot. The intended audience were informed that they would be enlightened about 'awakening' and 'social issues.' According to Singh, the meeting soon turned into a congregation where the five speakers abused Hindu Gods. The complainant said that the accused did not spare even the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, and Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister.

Singh, in his police complaint, wrote that the five told the gathered people that with the money being sent from outside India, the willing local people of Amroha could enjoy a much better life in-case they choose to become Christians. The complaint also stated that the accused used abusive language during the meetings. The police are yet to identify the remaining three.

Christians arrested in India for missionary activity and alleged use of "objectionable language" directed at @narendramodi: https://t.co/ZzPBHzVTIr

— Arif Rafiq (@ArifCRafiq) January 2, 2018

Shivkumar Singh is an RSS member and lives in Rajpoot Colony. In his complaint, he did not provide any specific number of people who came to the meeting or provide details. Singh said that a few people in the locality was lured by the conversion spiel and converted to Christianity. He said that he knew of such activities even a year back. He also filed an FIR against them then too. According to Devendra Kumar Singh, the SHO of Hasanpur, Maan Singh is a resident of Delhi, while Brahmanand lives in Hasanpur.

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• The Indian Express

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