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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Man sets fire to gas cylinder on truck in Kerala's Kottayam, held
Kottayam(Kerala) (PTI): A 33-year-old man climbed onto a parked truck carrying cooking gas cylinders and set fire to one of them near Thalayolaparambu in the small hours of Saturday, police said.
The incident occurred around 12.30 am, they said.
The fire and rescue personnel soon arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, averting a major disaster.
According to police, the man is suspected to be under mental distress as he claimed that he was walking from Ernakulam to his home in Marangattupilly here when he saw the truck on the roadside.
An FIR under sections 329(3)(criminal trespass),324(2)(mischief),326(f)(mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was lodged against him.
Police said that the man was formally arrested, but will be released on station bail as the offences he is accused of are bailable.
"His family is here at the station and he will be released to them," the officer said.
In the FIR, police have said that the man opened the seal of one of the gas cylinders and set fire to it with the knowledge that his act was dangerous to those living in the area.
According to the company transporting the cooking gas cylinders, it suffered a loss of Rs 2,300 in the incident.
