Allegation of forced conversion; 12 including Malayali priest, wife arrested in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Protests are raging in Maharashtra over the arrest of 12 people, including a Malayali priest and his wife, on charges of forced conversion. Father Sudhir, a priest of the CSI South Kerala Diocese Nagpur Mission and his wife Jasmine were arrested. A case has also been registered against those who came to the station to meet them. The case was registered by Benoda police on the complaint of Bajrang Dal activists.

They were taken into custody by the police at around 8 pm last night while a Christmas prayer meeting was being held in Nagpur. They were then taken to the station and arrested. The police later arrested those who came to enquire about the matter. It is reported that they are presently in Benoda police station and will be produced in the court soon. Although CSI representatives tried to get bail at the station, the police asked them to come to the court. They were not given a copy of the FIR.

Sudhir, a native of Amaravila in Thiruvananthapuram, has been in Maharashtra for the last five years. The remaining ten arrested are natives of Maharashtra. There are widespread protests following their arrest.