6 held for forceful religious conversion in Thane

Six persons were arrested from Vasai and Palghar areas in Thane for allegedly indulging in forceful religious conversion of tribals, police said today.

The accused-Vincent Benedict, Alfansoi Davre, Cyger J D'Souza, Santia Manvel D'Souza, Solomon Shinde and Hari Rama-were held last night for forcing Hindu tribals in these talukas to convert to Christianity on the eve of Good Friday, they said.

The arrests came soon after scores of tribals protested in front of the Palghar police station demanding immediate arrest of those involved in conversion activities.

Bowing to pressure, police apprehended the accused and registered complaints against them under sections 295 A and 34 of the IPC late last night.

The police action was based on a complaint lodged by Santosh Laxman of Deokop village of Palghar taluka where he stated that a group of persons repeatedly came to their village and gave sermons to tribals and preached them on benefits of conversion following which many of them had changed their religion.

Meanwhile, security was upped in the area to prevent any untoward incident, police added.