VHP workers disrupt gathering held to plan Easter, organiser arrested in prohibition case

When the Bharuch police control room was alerted, several police officials reached the spot. Bharuch Superintendent of Police Mayur Chavda sent a team to curb a likely escalation after the matter was reported, as per officials.

A liquor bottle was allegedly found at the venue and organiser Ramesh Pithwa was booked in a prohibition case. Pithwa was later released on bail, said police.

“We got information about some right-wing people carrying out disturbances at Omkar Complex in an ongoing peaceful meeting. The VHP members claimed that religious conversions were in progress. But we did not find any such activity.  All those present at the event were Christians. Both sides have given applications against each other and based on that, we have started a probe,” Ankleshwar B Division Police Inspector V K Bhutiya told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, Ankleshwar VHP leader Ajay Mishra said, “We got information about conversions taking place at the gathering and that is when our teams reached the spot. Simultaneously, police also reached the spot. We have handed an application to police inspector Bhutiya to investigate and find out if religious conversion activities were in progress or not.”

A Christian community leader who was present at the meeting said on condition of anonymity, “The meeting was held to discuss the preparations of events for Good Friday and Easter. No religious conversion took place.”