Forced conversions probed in Assam

Christian missionaries have landed in trouble in /Assam with the state police special branch launching a formal inquiry into alleged charges of forced conversions.

The probe was started on the basis of a complaint filed by a resident of the city, Jadav Kalita, that the "Indian Church of Christ" was converting people by offering them money and jobs.

Police sources said at least 14 such cases of "forced" conversions had come to light, in which the missionaries had over the past six months allegedly offered jobs and other economic benefits to people to induce them to adopt Christianity. The sources added, however, that in many cases those who had converted had insisted that they had not been forced to do so and had taken the step for "personal reasons".

Two of the converted people had told the police that they had been taken to a Christian priest's house where the padre offered them jobs and other inducements if they agreed to adopt Christianity. On the basis of this, the sources said, the police might summon Father Jojy Vomen, who is the alleged mastermind behind the conversion programme. Fr. Vomen had come to Assam in 1995 from Bangalore, and is associated with a host of church activities.

The police has identified the following among those "forcibly" converted: Prawal Kumar Das, 22 and his wife Mamoni Das, Nirab Das, 26, Amal Saikia, 18, Kamal Baishya, Pana Dey, Kaushik Thakur, Manoj Das, Parwesh and his family, Swagata Das, Akan Deka and a student of Negaon College, Pallawi Das. Most of them belong to very poor families and were desperately looking for a jobs.

Police sources said that though an inquiry had been started on the basis of Mr Kalita's complaint, police officers were clueless about what legal provision to use to take action if it could prove that the conversions were indeed forced. The state government, the sources added, would be apprised about the findings. The church authorities were not available for comment.
 

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