Right-wing activists disrupt religious convention at Sagar school; MP Police to probe claims of conversion

Sagar, Aug 8 (IANS) Right-wing activists disrupted a religious convention at a school in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district alleging religious conversion that prompted the Madhya Pradesh Police to probe the allegations, officials said on Saturday.

The incident took place on Friday evening at Holy Family Convent School on Bina Road in Khurai town, where a gathering of Christians from different states had reportedly taken place.

Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Right-wing organisations reached the school late at night and alleged that the people had been brought there for religious conversion.

They began a protest which intensified following the allegations, prompting police teams from Khurai, Bina, Khimlasa and nearby police stations to reach the spot.

Senior police officers intervened and managed to control the situation, officials said.

Bina SDOP Ajay Kumar Sankat, Khurai Rural police station in-charge Santosh Singh Dangi and Khurai Urban police station in-charge Yogendra Singh Dangi were among the police officials who reached the school.

Police assured the protesters that the allegations would be investigated and appropriate action would be taken if any violation of law was established.

Protesters alleged that around 120 beds had been arranged inside the school premises and men, women and children from Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand were present there. They alleged that the gathering was part of an attempt to convert people to Christianity.

However, people present at the gathering told officials that they were Christians and had assembled for a religious programme.

Khurai Block Education Officer R S Sharma said officials had spoken to the school management and people present at the premises.

“The people present there told us that they are Christians. Information regarding the matter is being gathered,” Sharma said.

Police said they had not reached any conclusion regarding the allegations and would verify the identities of those present, the purpose of the gathering and the activities conducted there.

The administration will also examine whether permission was obtained for the programme and whether any law was violated. The investigation will be taken forward on Saturday.

–IANS

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