Satna man, who had claimed conversion, now says he is from Bajrang Dal
Bhopal: Dharmendra Dohar, the man who alleged that he had been illegally converted by a group of Christians, has told reporters that he has been a member of the right wing group, the Bajrang Dal, for a year. A report carried by NDTV said that the man – who complained to the police that he was illegally converted and paid Rs. 5,000 for it – was, however, unwilling to confirm that claim before television cameras.
“I can’t speak on this… If I do, I will get embroiled in the issue… it will be said that I’m changing my statement”. The “group”, he said, doesn’t want “such people (Christians) to come in here,” Dohar told reporters.
Dohar also said that he is concerned about his family and added: “It is because of me they got in trouble… we were told not to allow these people (Christians) to come into our homes and mingle with us”.
On Dohar’s complaint, police reached a village in Satna on Thursday, where a pre-Christmas programme had been organized by the local seminarians. The cops after reaching the place arrested five men, including a priest.
“The Fathers and Brothers had gone for the programme, when a group of Bajrang Dal people had turned up and accused us of carrying out conversions and then the police came… After being taken to the police station, they were beaten up by another group of Bajrang Dal members,” said Fr Robin. When other priests went to meet the Churchmen, they were beaten up as well, he said. Many of the men sustained injuries and started bleeding. “They even set fire to one of our cars,” he said. The Bajrang Dal’s accusations of conversions, he said, were entirely false.
Both police and the Bajranj Dal have denied allegations of assault. No case has been filed on the assault. Reports said that the police detained 30 Christians and two priests and six of them, including a priest, George M, were arrested. They were released on bail later and a case was filed against them.
Rajesh Hingankar, a senior police officer, said, “18-year-old Vikas Shukla was arrested on Saturday for allegedly torching the car”.
