Attempt to convert a family to Christianity in Chhattisgarh, 9 people including five women arrested

An attempt to convert members of a family to Christianity in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district failed when the police arrested nine people, including five women, who were involved in the conversion.

According to the Durg police, the accused have been identified as pastor Mamta Kumari Dixit (50), Sapan Deep (42), their son Shubham (24), Rajesh Patel (35), his wife Madhu Tandi (35), Neeta Baghel (40), their daughter Devanti (21), Bini Tandi (30) and Ribeiro Williams (36). Police told PTI that the incident took place in a house located near the Raipur-Durg check-post under the limits of Padmanabhpur police station.

In fact, a local resident had complained to the police in this regard. According to the complaint, the accused organised a healing service meeting at Madhu Tandi’s house on Thursday night, where they allegedly tried to convert her family to Christianity, a police official said. One of the local residents lodged a police complaint after coming to know about the incident, he said.

According to the police officer, a police team then reached the spot for investigation, following which a case was registered. The accused were arrested under Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) and Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act.