LUCKNOW: Three persons were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly trying to lure the residents of a village in Sitapur to convert to Christianity.
The accused, identified as Shrawan Kumar, Shrikesh, and Gangaram, were arrested from Gulbojhan village in Sitapur while they were holding a special prayer meeting with villagers.
Station house officer, Sakran, Mukul Verma said that an FIR was lodged by a man, Kamlakant Awasthi, who alleged that Shrawan Kumar, Shrikesh and Gangaram visited Saidpur village and tried to force residents to convert to Christianity.
“A special prayer was organised and the holy cross was distributed among the participants,” alleged Awasthi, adding that he informed the police when he came to know about it.
As soon as the police team reached the spot, the trio tried to escape but they were nabbed.
“We have seized literature used for conversion and have lodged an FIR against the trio under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act,” said police circle officer, Biswan, Abhishek Pratap.
Two days ago, Naimish Gupta, a resident of Sadarpur in Sitapur, had lodged an FIR alleging that a couple from Lucknow, David Asthana and Rohini Asthana, reached their village with Brazilian tourists, identified as Rivaldo Joses DaSilva, Magnolia Maro Laronzera, Gulheram Nasimento Edalgo and Alexander DaSilva, and tried to force the villagers to convert to Christianity. David was arrested on Monday night.
