Two Evangelists Arrested In Rajasthan's Bharatpur For Luring People To Christianity Using Money; VHP's Proactiveness Helps Police

Rajasthan's Bharatpur Police on Tuesday (13 February) announced the arrest of two evangelists and their eight followers for converting poor people to Christianity by luring them for money.

One of the accused, Kunwar Singh Jatav is a Bharatpur local while the other accused, Shailendra Singh Jat hails from Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad. A large amount of propaganda material was recovered from them.

Their eight followers were held under section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and were later released on bail, according to The Indian Express. The police are further investigating the case.

Responding to these developments, Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) Bharatpur president Lakhan Singh claimed the involvement of these persons in conversion for the last two to three years.

A large-scale programme was organised at a private hotel on 11 February where 450-500 people were gathered. The VHP reached the spot after their people informed them about the activities happening there, Singh said.

Singh also alleged that objectionable language was used against Hindu gods to mislead people. A scuffle with VHP workers followed, after which the situation became tense and police arrived at the spot.

A case was then registered under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) and 298 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings).

The claim is that evangelists were luring people with money – Rs 200 to 500 or claiming to heal their illnesses. The role of Chandigarh-based evangelist Bajinder Singh, who runs a propaganda YouTube channel, is also being investigated.