First case filed against Christian missionaries under Rajasthan’s new anti-conversion law: Report
Jaipur: The Rajasthan Police has reportedly filed the first case under the state’s new anti-conversion law, accusing two Christian missionaries in Kota of using “allurement” to encourage religious conversions during a three-day gathering at Beersheba Church earlier this month. The event, called a ‘Spiritual Satsang,’ took place from November 4 to 6.
The FIR was registered late Thursday night after local office-bearers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal filed complaints. Police have issued notices to the two pastors, Chandy Varghese from New Delhi and Arun John from Kota, alleging that they encouraged conversions and conducted baptisms during the event, according to a report by The Hindu.
The two missionaries were booked under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, which pertains to acts intended to outrage religious feelings, as well as Sections 3 and 5 of the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2025. The FIR, registered at the Borkheda police station, reportedly stated that the accused made offensive remarks about the Hindu community and described the Rajasthan government as the “devil’s kingdom.”
Police have launched an investigation after obtaining videos and social media livestreams that purportedly show the speeches and activities at the event. It will also record statements from those who attended the event, given the sensitivity of the case.
Some youths allegedly announced from the stage that they had been baptised and had accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour, while urging others to adopt Christianity, added the report.
Pastor Arun John said that the police had asked him and Pastor Varghese to respond to the notices within three days. “We have nothing to hide [about the programme]… Its videos are already in the public domain. No illegal activity was carried out at the gathering,” The Hindu quoted him as saying.
The State Assembly passed the anti-conversion Bill during its monsoon session on September 9, and the Home Department notified the law on October 29. However, the legislation has drawn criticism for its steep penalties, which include life imprisonment, fines of up to Rs 1 crore, and the confiscation or demolition of properties for carrying out conversions through fraud, allurement, or coercion.
Interestingly, the law exempts individuals returning to their “ancestral religion.” Rajasthan is the latest Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled State to enact legislation aimed at curbing alleged forcible religious conversions. Similar laws are already in place in States such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
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Chhattisgarh: Couple, two grandchildren killed over 'property' dispute; two relatives held
Janjgir (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): An elderly couple and their two grandchildren were allegedly murdered by two close relatives to grab family property in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district, police said on Thursday.
The couple’s one son, who had earlier spent 15 years in jail for killing his own brother, and his son have been taken into custody in connection with the murders, an official said.
The bodies were found inside their under-construction house in Bhanvtara village under the jurisdiction of the Shivrinarayan police station after labourers reached the site for work in the morning, a senior police official said.
The deceased were identified as Medani Prasad Kashyap (70), his wife Kanti Bai (65), their grandchildren Pitambar Kashyap (17) and Mogra (25).
The deceased couple’s son, Sonsai, and his son Dakeshwar have been taken into custody in connection with the murders, the official said.
According to the preliminary investigation, Medani Prasad had three sons, including Sonsai. Police said Sonsai had murdered one of his brothers in the past and had served a 15-year jail term in the case, while the couple’s third son had reportedly died by suicide.
Sonsai and his son Dakeshwar, alias Golu, allegedly killed his parents and the children of his two deceased brothers with an axe while they were asleep in the under-construction house, he said.
Pitambar was the only son of one deceased brother, while Mogra was the only daughter of another, the official said.
The accused allegedly wanted sole ownership of the family property and are suspected of having committed the crime to eliminate other claimants, police said.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway, the official added.
