10 detained for attempt to disrupt Christian event in Gujarat’s Dang district
Members of Agniveer Hindu Sanstha alleged that religious conversions were being carried out at the event. No such activity took place, said police
3 min read
Agniveer organisation's General Secretary Rajpurohit could not be contacted for comment. Dang police detained 10 people for allegedly trying to disrupt a Christian religious event at Junnar village in the district, alleging that religious conversion was being carried out there, on Wednesday.
The men who were detained are associated with Agniveer Hindu Sanstha, a self-styled organisation active in South Gujarat.
Police said no religious conversion had taken place during the three-day event.
According to the details received in the case, the Christian community in Dang had organised a three-day religious event in Junnar village, Subir taluka. The event, which began on Monday, saw a large number of attendees from various villages. The preaching was led by Sister Prerna, who travelled from Lucknow, along with a few local participants.
The event went by peacefully for two days but on the third and final evening, Agniveer organisation volunteers reached the spot, chanted slogans, and attempted to enter the pandal where the event was being held, sources said. The police officers present at the scene immediately apprehended them and detained 10 individuals.
They were later taken to the Subir police station, where their statements were recorded and they were allowed to go.
Those detained included General Secretary of Agniveer organisation Mahendra Rajpurohit along with Jignesh Bhoye, Pankaj Chaudhary, Umesh Pawar, Umesh Gawa, Hasmukh Raut, Sukriav Gaekwad, Vinod Bhoye, Manilal Tubada, and Jayesh Dahwad — all residents of different parts of Ahwa taluka in Dang.
The event organiser, Subir Taluka Pastor Raman Chaudhary, said, “Every year, we organise such religious gatherings where spiritual preachings are given by pastors and bishops. We had also taken permission from the village sarpanch, Ganesh Chaudhary, besides the district collector before organising the three-day event. The event was successful with a large number of tribal people from different villages in Tapi and Dang attending it.”
Dangs Deputy Superintendent of police S J Patil said, “Our police team was present for three days at Junnar village for security purposes for this event. We have also verified that they (the organisers) had obtained all necessary legal permissions. Video recordings of the speeches made by the preachers had been completed, and nothing unusual had occurred. Some of the youths from the Agniveer organisation came and tried to disturb the event, but we detained them and later released them.”
Agniveer organisation’s General Secretary Rajpurohit could not be contacted for comment.
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