Communal Unrest in Jabalpur after Hindu groups allege conversions by Christians

Bhopal: Security has been tightened in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur city following demonstrations by Hindu right-wing groups who alleged religious conversions by Christian missionaries. The protests led to violent confrontations between members of the two communities at two different locations over two consecutive days.

The first clash occurred on Saturday within the jurisdiction of the Gorakhpur police station, while the second was reported on Sunday in the Madhotal police station area.

On Saturday, the incident took place behind a church near Hawabagh College, falling under the Gorakhpur police limits. Bajrang Dal activists reportedly clashed with members of a group that had organised a Christmas lunch programme for visually challenged students. The activists halted the event, raising objections over how the students had been brought to the venue without the consent of school authorities.

Police personnel reached the scene promptly and prevented the situation from worsening.

Although neither group lodged a formal complaint, the Jabalpur district administration directed an inquiry into the activities of the group that organised the lunch as part of the Christmas celebrations.

The students involved dismissed the allegations of religious conversion levelled by the Bajrang Dal activists.

The second incident was reported on Sunday in the Shakti Nagar locality under the Madhotal area of Jabalpur.

According to circle SP (CSP-Madhotal) BS Gathoria, Hindu right-wing groups arrived at the location claiming they had received information that Christian missionaries were conducting religious conversions during a Sunday prayer gathering.

A confrontation broke out between the two sides before police intervened and stopped the situation from escalating.

Subsequently, both parties submitted complaints at the Madhotal police station, following which the police initiated investigations into the two complaints.

Courtesy: India Express