Joda: Alleged conversion activities have triggered communal tensions in some areas of this block in Keonjhar district.
According to reports, a large number of people from Kahnupur, Dampur, Asheikala, Jugudidhar, Telamatia and Kandara held a meeting at Kahnupur and strongly opposed some people, who have been recently converted to Christianity.
The villagers alleged before media persons that a few evangelists from neighbouring Jharkhand have been trying to persuade gullible tribals here to adopt Christianity by inducing them financially with the help of some local people.
Tension flared up between the villagers and the neophytes here Sunday. However, the police rushed to the spot in time and stemmed the situation from spiraling out of control.
A team led by Joda IIC Ranjan Kumar Sahu was present at the spot.
At the meeting, district unit secretary of Ho Samaj (a tribal outfit), Gourachandra Munda, social activist and former sarpanch Aganu Charan Mohant, social activist Dambaru Kudan and vice-president of Banabasi Kalyan Samiti Hari Charan Banara warned the tribals against falling into the trap of evangelists, who are luring them into Christianity.
At about 10 am, people of both the sides were on the verge of a confrontation when some people wanted to intercept a vehicle of the evangelists.
Gadi Munda, a villager of Kahnupur said, “There have been rifts among families due to proselytizing activities. Some people persuaded my wife to adopt Christianity over which my family has been split into two. My wife is staying along with her children separately. She is firm on not giving up the new religious beliefs. She wants me to divorce her and go in for second marriage.”
The villagers said people are illiterate and not conscious. They easily play into the hands of evangelists due to financial inducement. Local police and administration have been ignoring such illegal activities while poor people are fed up with the administration due to discriminatory policy adopted in government welfare schemes, villagers alleged.
Sunika Munda, a woman, alleged evangelists are promising a lot in health and education sectors.
Mohant warned that a communal riot-like situation cannot be ruled out in future if the administration does not take stern action against conversion.
Joda deputy superintendent of police Saroj Mohapatra said watch is being maintained on the situation.
Champua sub-collector Santosh Kumar Mishra said no one can be forced to change his/her religion. “If such a thing has happened, action will be taken according to law,” he said. PNN