Two evangelists arrested in Rajasthan over ‘bid to convert hundreds’

Station House Officer Manish Sharma of Atalbandh police station in Bharatpur said police were investigating attempts at religious conversion using “pralobhan (inducements)”.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) district president of Bharatpur, Lakhan Singh, said: “These persons have been involved in this for the last two-three years… On February 11, they organised a large-scale programme at a private hotel where 450-500 people were gathered. We had sent our people there to inform us the moment it began. When they informed us through WhatsApp, we reached the spot.”

Lakhan Singh alleged that at the event, the evangelists used objectionable language against gods and tried to “mislead” people. He said VHP workers tried to intervene, and that this led to a scuffle. “The situation became tense and we informed the administration and the police came to the spot”.

He claimed that the evangelists lured people with money – Rs 200 to 500 – as well as on the pretext of healing their illnesses.

A case was lodged at Atalbandh police station under Indian Penal Code (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).

As per officers at the police station, a video by Chandigarh-based evangelist Bajinder Singh was also played at the event. Bajinder Singh runs a popular YouTube channel titled ‘Prophet Bajinder Singh’, which boasts of 3.16 million subscribers. SHO Manish Sharma said that Bajinder Singh’s role was also being looked into as part of the investigation.