By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Nanakmatta (Udham Singh Nagar), 4 May: Udham Singh Nagar Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) in Nanakmatta against a group of people associated with a Christian missionary team following allegations that they attempted to convert a local family to Christianity through inducements and pressure. The incident has also prompted the district administration to constitute a detailed inquiry committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure strict compliance with the law.
According to official information, the complaint was lodged at Nanakmatta police station by a local resident, Sohan Singh, who alleged that religious gatherings have been taking place for several years at the residence of a person identified as Gauri Singh in village Navi Nagar under the Nanakmatta area. The complainant stated that during these gatherings, certain people, including Shankar Singh, Varun Singh, Sahdev Singh, Dan Singh Rana, Sarita, Shabnam and Pradeep, had allegedly attempted to persuade him to adopt Christianity.
The complaint further alleged that inducements were offered in the form of financial assistance amounting to Rs 5 lakhs, with the intention of influencing his decision. It has also been claimed that when the complainant refused the offer and declined to convert and informed certain organisations about the matter, he was allegedly threatened by those involved. Following a preliminary inquiry into the allegations, the police have registered a case under the provisions of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018 as amended in 2023. The officials indicated that further investigation is underway to ascertain the facts and determine the veracity of the claims made in the complaint.
Meanwhile, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Pankaj Upadhyay stated that the issue had recently led to unrest in the Nanakmatta area, where certain groups had raised concerns over alleged conversion activities. In response to the situation and on the directions of the District Magistrate (DM), an inquiry committee at the ADM level has been constituted to conduct a thorough examination of the matter.
The administration has emphasised that the provisions of the law relating to religious conversions will be enforced strictly, and any violation will invite appropriate legal action. In addition, the authorities have also appealed for calm, stating that the investigation will be carried out impartially and in accordance with established legal procedures.
