Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The Bihar Police
have arrested four people accused of
forcing a Dalit
family to convert to Islam. A complaint was lodged
by Yasoda Devi, resident
of the village of Rampur Khurd, against seven
people. In the First Information
Report (FIR), the woman said
that some villagers forcibly converted her husband, Rajkishore Ram, and
that he had received death threats
if she failed to embrace Islam.
The arrest took place on 11 September,
but the situation is still unclear.
Questioned by police, the husband claimed he had converted of his own free will.
According to Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC),
in the Indian states where elections are approaching " a precise pattern is emerging, according to which the Hindu radicals have begun to demonize the minority
communities. When elements of
'Hindutva are involved in forced conversions, these
are considered 'homecomings'. "
However, he told
AsiaNews, "this dichotomy
is a cause of deep concern. If a Dalit
choose to accept another religion
of his choice, who has the right to stop them? The GCIC condemns
all forms of forced conversion, but
calls for action by the
authorities to stop the atrocities
used to intimidate the