By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 15 May: A fresh dimension has emerged in the alleged religious conversion activities being investigated in the Terai region of Uttarakhand. Intelligence inputs indicate that there is strong likelihood of funding coming for conversion activities in Terai region from Punjab. Sources claimed that the police and the district administration in Udham Singh Nagar are currently attempting to establish possible connections relating to the activities of Christian missionaries operating in the area.
SSP Ajay Ganpati has stated that a Special Investigation Team has been constituted to examine matters related to alleged religious conversions in the district. He stated that the SIT is gathering evidence to ascertain who may have violated provisions of the anti-conversion law as well as the directives issued by the Supreme Court in such matters.
ADM Pankaj Upadhyay also asserted that the administration would scrutinise the records of organisations conducting prayer meetings allegedly linked to conversion activities. He further stated that persons who have changed their religion, or who claim to have altered their mode of worship, are likely to face scrutiny regarding eligibility for reservation-related documents and benefits.
As per the intelligence agencies, the missionary activities have been particularly noticed among the Rai Sikh community residing in large numbers in the Nanakmatta-Sitarganj belt. It may be recalled that another controversy relating to alleged religious conversion and the purported illegal operation of prayer halls in Budhiya Colony, Majra Sheila and Ramjeevanpur areas under Gadarpur tehsil of Udham Singh Nagar has been viral currently.
It may also be reminded that a large number of local residents and activists associated with Sanatan organisations had gathered at the Collectorate and submitted a memorandum addressed to the District Magistrate through the ADM yesterday. The protesters alleged that incidents of religious conversion have been increasing continuously in the region, leading to resentment among local residents.
In the memorandum, the protesters have demanded identification of persons allegedly running the illegal prayer halls and they also sought stringent legal action against them. Members of social organisations opposing the conversions by inducement have also alleged that inflammatory remarks against Sanatan Dharma and Hindu deities are being made during prayer meetings, which are hurting religious sentiments. They urged the administration to immediately curb such activities and take strict action against those found responsible.
The police personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain security, while the administration continued to monitor developments closely.
ADM Kaustubh Mishra has assured the protesters that the matter would be investigated thoroughly and appropriate legal action would be initiated on the basis of facts that emerge during the inquiry. The administration maintained that preservation of law and order remained its foremost priority and that no form of illegal activity would be tolerated.
It may be reminded here that the issue has triggered intense discussion across the Terai region, with residents now awaiting the administration’s next course of action. A leading organisation Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, which has been engaged in welfare activities in the tribal belt of the Terai region, has also cautioned the administration that inducement-based conversion activities are allegedly being carried out through prayer meetings. The organisation claimed that missionary activities among the Tharu, Buksa and Rai Sikh communities were a matter of concern from both social and internal security perspectives.
Representatives of the Ashram, including Dev Singh Rana, Manoj Raghuvanshi, Mukesh Singh and Hira Singh, have submitted complaints to the administration alleging that inducements are being offered by missionaries and that people are allegedly being provoked against Hindu religious beliefs.
