Shiv Sainiks clash at Nithari

A group of Shiv Sena activists on Tuesday clashed with evangelists at Nithari, creating an ugly scene at the village. Shiv Sainiks, led by Delhi unit president Jai Bhagvan Goel, tried to prevent evangelists led by K M Paul under the banner 'Global Peace Initiative' from entering the area for a prayer meeting.

Goel alleged that the evangelist groups have offered Rs 25 lakh and a house to the kin of those killed in Nithari and it was an attempt to lure "poor families" to the Christian fold.

"Paul is trying to lure away poor villagers and convert them to Christianity.

“They are trying to present a bad picture of the country abroad," Goel alleged.

This led to a scuffle between the two groups but police immediately brought the situation under control. Paul said he was at the village as part of a peace initiative.

"But we are being challenged by these people," he said, after a prayer meeting with other religious leaders at the village.

The head priest of Khawja Nizamuddin Chisti also visited the area earlier in the day.