The first incident occurred in Vasanta Vihar Colony under the Sarakanda police station. A prayer meeting was being held at the residence of SECL driver Rajendra Khare. According to reports, Hindu groups received information that people attending the gathering were being “misled and encouraged to convert” from Hinduism.
Members of these organizations reached the spot and claimed that, after peeking through the window, they saw people being told disrespectful things about Hindu deities. Police arrived shortly after and took Rajendra Khare to the station for questioning. Based on a complaint by a worker named Chatrapal Sahu, police registered a case against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
Second case: Prayer gathering sparks row in Pachpedi
On the same day, another prayer meeting was being held at the house of Sanjay Dandekar in Kukurdikhurd village under Pachpedi police station. Hindu groups alleged that locals were being lured and pressured to adopt Christianity.
When police reached the scene, they found women, men, and children praying with Bibles in hand. As tension mounted, police stopped the gathering. Based on a complaint filed by Narayan Patel, police registered a case against Sanjay Dandekar and Ririk Lahaskar under Section 295A of the IPC and Section 3(5) of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act. Both were subsequently arrested.
Swift police action, security tightened
The Pachpedi police in-charge stated that investigations in both cases are ongoing. Police forces have been deployed at both locations to prevent any communal tension. The situation is currently under control.
Authorities have appealed to the public not to believe in rumors and to immediately report any illegal religious activity or attempts at provocation to the police.
Background: Repeated controversies over conversions
Several similar incidents of alleged religious conversion have surfaced in Bilaspur and nearby areas in recent months. Under the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, any person found inducing, coercing, or deceiving someone into converting faces strict punishment. Police have stated that each such case is investigated based on facts and evidence.
