Religious Conversion: Chhattisgarh gears up to introduce bill to provide harsher punishment
Chhattisgarh is gearing up to introduce a bill aimed at cracking down on conversions, with provisions for harsher punishments. The proposed bill requires individuals seeking to convert to another religion to submit a filled-in application with personal details at least 60 days in advance to the District Magistrate. The police would then investigate the motive and reason for the conversion. If found to be illegal, the bill provides for a punishment of up to 10 years.
The draft of the "Chhattisgarh Prohibition of Illegal Religious Conversion Bill" is ready and may undergo amendments before being tabled in the legislature. According to the draft, conversions through abuse of power, coercion, undue influence, incitement, fraudulent means, or through marriage would be considered illegal.
Under the proposed bill, individuals must appear before a magistrate for verification within 60 days of submitting the application. Failure to do so may result in the conversion being considered illegal. The District Magistrate is required to display a copy of the declaration on the notice board of his office until the date of confirmation, and maintain a record of every convert.
In case of objection by blood relatives or the adopted person, an FIR can be lodged, and the case would be non-bailable and tried by the Sessions Court. The bill imposes a minimum of two years and a maximum of 10 years in prison, along with a minimum fine of Rs 25,000, for illegally converting minors, women, or persons belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. Mass conversion is punishable by a minimum of three years and a maximum of 10 years, along with a fine of Rs 50,000. Additionally, the court may approve compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh for victims of religious conversion. The law, however, does not apply to those who want to convert back to their previous religion.
The state has witnessed several instances of attacks on tribals who had converted to Christianity in districts like Kondagaon and Narayanpur. Conversion became a significant election issue before the assembly elections, with the BJP making it a focal point of their campaign. Late Union Minister Dilip Singh Judeo initiated the "Ghar Wapsi" campaign in Jashpur, aimed at bringing converted individuals back to Hinduism.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai highlighted the increase in religious conversions over the past five years. He praised Judeo for his efforts in preventing rapid conversions, noting that even as a king, Judeo washed the feet of converted people and brought them back to Hinduism.
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12-year-old boy sexually assaulted by two classmates, class 10 student in Faridabad
Faridabad (PTI): A student of class 8 here was allegedly sexually assaulted for several days by two of his classmates and a student of class 10, police said on Saturday.
Based on a complaint of the victim's father, police have registered a case against the three juveniles under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Saran Police Station.
According to police, the 12-year-old boy, studying in a government school, was leaving the premises to go home when he was lured by two of his classmates and another student of class 10 to the school bathroom, where they sexually assaulted him.
Following this, the accused students allegedly assaulted him for several days.
The boy's father noticed changes in his son's behaviour and asked him about it. He narrated his ordeal to the father who then approached the police.
Two of the accused students live in the same village as the victim, police said.
A senior police officer said, "We have initiated the necessary legal procedures. Counselling is being provided to the victim, and the entire matter is being investigated seriously. Further action will be taken based on the investigation."
