Top leaders of the district unit of the BJP, led by Dhanbad MP P.N. Singh, accused the state government of supporting the Christian missionaries engaged in illegal conversion of innocent people in violation of the anti-conversion laws of 2017.

During a press conference at Industries and Commerce association auditorium on Thursday evening, Singh, who was accompanied by Dhanbad mayor Chandrashekhar Agarwal, besides Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha, Sindri MLA Indrajit Mahto and Ragini Singh, the wife of former Jharia MLA Sanjeev Singh, alleged that conversion of several families had been carried out in Belgarhia.

Moreover, they alleged that a church had been constructed by illegally usurping the land of a tribal resident of Belgarhia.

“The land of a local villager, Manohar Mohli, was taken over by two persons of the Christian community engaged in religious conversion under the instruction of Christian missionaries,” said Singh.

He added that the land was taken to carry out business from Mohli by taking his thumb impression on documents.

However, he alleged that later a church was illegally constructed without obtaining Mohli’s consent.

A group of residents of Belgarhia on June 22 raised a hue and cry, accusing two persons of the colony, one from Arunachal Pradesh and another from Odisha, engaged in imparting private tuitions, of carrying out the religious conversion and of illegally constructing a church.

The residents broke the cross sign atop the church in protest.

The situation was brought under control after the arrival of a police team led by Sindri deputy superintendent of police, Ajeet Kumar Sinha, who had taken away the two Christian people and admitted them to Patna Medical College and Hospital.

A case of lockdown violations was lodged against over 100 people, including the Sindri MLA, on June 23 who also went to the site.

The under-construction church at Belgarhia in Dhanbad Picture by Gautam Dey

The administration also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in Belgarhia.

“Though Mohli petitioned the circle office of Baliapur against misuse of his land, no action was taken by the government officials in this regard,” alleged Singh.

He said they demanded a fair inquiry by the police as no action has so far been initiated against the two persons engaged in the alleged conversion and illegal construction.

“Instead of taking action against the accused persons, the local administration lodged a case of lockdown norms violation against the Sindri MLA, Indrajit Mahto, who went there to meet some party workers,” Singh alleged.

He said the Sindri MLA was being targeted by the administration for unknown reasons.

Earlier last month, the circle officer of Govindpur, Vandana Bharti, had lodged an FIR against him on charges of lockdown violations when he went there to meet some party workers.

“Though the government officials were present in both programmes, including the launching of a transformer in Govindpur on May 21 and on June 22 at Baliapur, the Sindri MLA was made a scapegoat,” Singh added.

He alleged that chief minister Hemant Soren met the Christian leaders after winning the elections, indicating his tacit support to their conversion.