1st anti-conversion law case registered
Kota, Nov. 22 -- Rajasthan has registered its first case under the newly enacted Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2025, after police booked two individuals in an alleged case of forced religious conversion.
The case was registered on Thursday night at Borkhera police station, where two Christian missionaries have been accused of coercing people to convert and provoking religious sentiments. The FIR, filed by Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad office-bearers, also alleges that both individuals made derogatory remarks against the state government, calling it the "rule of the devil."
SHO, Borkhera police station, Devesh Bhardwaj, said an "aatmik satsang" (spiritual gathering) was held from November 4 to 6 at Beersheba Church on Canal Road, attended by several locals. Videos and livestream screenshots from the event surfaced online, allegedly showing attempts to incite religious conversion. After verification, the police registered a case and detained the two accused - Chandi Varghese, a resident of Delhi, and Arun John from Kota. Both are currently being questioned.
Yogesh Renwal, provincial coordinator of Bajrang Dal, claimed that in the Borkhera gathering, Varghese was heard saying that the number of Christians in Rajasthan would soon increase, which would free people from the "bondage of sin."
The state government issued a notification on October 29 for the implementation of the new anti-conversion law. Under it, all offences related to unlawful conversion are non-bailable. Punishments vary depending on the nature of the offence, with "love jihad" cases carrying maximum imprisonment of up to 20 years.
Police said they are examining all related social media content and also questioning members of the Hindu community who were present at the satsang....
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