Police in Maharashtra's Amravati district have arrested eight individuals, including a pastor from Kerala and four women, on allegations of attempting forcible religious conversions. The incident, which occurred in a village under the Benoda police limits, has drawn sharp criticism from Kerala's Chief Minister, highlighting tensions around religious freedom and polarisation.
The Incident and Police Action
The case was initiated based on a complaint filed by Laxman Devidas Shende, a resident of Warud, located approximately 80 kilometres from Amravati City. Shende informed the police that a priest dressed in white robes was preaching in Shingori village and allegedly offering monetary inducements to change people's faith. The activity was reported to have taken place on Tuesday.
The group, which included the pastor and his aides, first visited the house of a villager named Ritesh Shankarrao Bondre. They later congregated at an adjoining temporary structure, or mandap. Following the complaint, local police brought the eight individuals to the police station for questioning.
After interrogation, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against them under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include indulging in deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings and uttering words with a deliberate intent to wound religious sentiments.
Details of the Accused and Bail
The investigation was led by Benoda's assistant police inspector, Vivek Deshmukh, who summoned the villager whose house was visited. The eight accused who were subsequently arrested include:
- Ritesh Shankarrao Bondre (the villager)
- Anandkumar Benjamin from Kalmeshwar taluka
- Sudhir William John William, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, currently residing in Nagpur
- Vikram Gopal Sande of Kalmeshwar
- Four women whose names were not detailed in the report
All the arrested individuals were produced before a court, which granted them bail. The Benoda police have stated that investigations into the matter are ongoing. Authorities have also appealed to local villagers to maintain peace and refrain from spreading or believing rumours.
Political Reaction and Allegations of Polarisation
The arrest quickly attracted political attention, particularly from Kerala. The state's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, took to the social media platform X to express his concern. In his post, he described the incident as "deeply disturbing," noting that a Malayali Christian priest, his family, and aides were detained.
Vijayan's statement linked the event to a broader pattern, alleging, "This follows a worrying pattern followed by Sangh Parivar, of targeting minorities to fuel polarisation." He further asserted that such actions undermine the constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens in India.
The case in Amravati underscores the sensitive and often contentious issue of religious conversion in several Indian states, where laws against forcible or induced conversion are in place. It brings to the fore the ongoing debate between the right to propagate one's faith and the allegations of coercive tactics, often leading to legal and political confrontations.
