Pastor arrested for conversion bid in UP's Ballia
Ballia (UP) (PTI): A pastor was arrested on Monday from the Sikandarpur area for allegedly inducing religious conversion with promises of money and jobs and hurting religious sentiments, an officer said on Monday.
Acting on a complaint by Gautam Gaur of Jalpa Chowk in Sikandarpur town, police registered a case on Sunday night against Jose Thomas, 47, a resident of Patna's New Pataliputra Colony, under relevant provisions of the BNS and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.
According to the complaint, Thomas was found at a house in Ward No. 5 here, allegedly addressing 15-20 women and children, promoting conversion to Christianity and making objectionable remarks about Hindu deities while offering inducements, police said.
The police arrested the accused on Monday morning, Superintendent of Police Omvir Singh said.
He said police have recovered 124 religious books, a music system, three microphones and other items from his possession.
According to the police, Thomas, who is originally from Patna, was currently residing in Karikom, Kaddithara, in Kerala, and he was in Ballia for conversion purposes.
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Latur teacher beats 32 students over suspicion of motorbike damage; arrested
Latur (Maharashtra) (PTI): Police have arrested a school teacher in Maharashtra's Latur district for allegedly thrashing 32 minor students, suspecting them of damaging his motorcycle, officials said.
Some pupils sustained injuries in the incident, which occurred at the private school hostel for students from classes 5 to 10 near Ahmedpur on the night of February 21, they said.
The accused, identified as Ujjwal Prakash Soni, suspected that students had damaged his motorcycle. He allegedly lost his temper and assaulted dozens of minor students with a bamboo stick, police said on Monday.
ALSO READ: Pastor arrested for conversion bid in UP's Ballia
He also allegedly threatened the children, claiming he would soon become the school principal and would then deal with them, the police said.
The principal of Christ International School, Zeba Nadar, later lodged a complaint at Ahmedpur Police Station.
The police arrested Soni after registering a case against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
In an official statement, Principal Nadar said the school lodged the complaint on February 22 and assured that student safety remains the institution's top priority.
"The incident is deeply unfortunate and condemnable. The school administration stands firmly with the students and will ensure their well-being," the principal said.
