In Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur, a 47-year-old man was allegedly assaulted and paraded with a shaved head on Friday for reportedly attempting to “coerce residents into converting to Christianity.”
The man, identified as Shivbadan, pulled out the caste card, claiming that he was attacked by upper-caste men as a punishment for his conversion to Christianity. An FIR was filed against Shivbadan and three others based on a complaint by Rohit Dixit, accusing him of attempting to convert villagers to Christianity.
Curiously, while Shivbadan claimed that he was attacked for his conversion to Christianity, he rubbished the FIR filed against him as registered on false grounds since he “no longer practised Christianity.”
Shivbadan, who is out on bail in a two-year-old case related to the anti-conversion law, also filed a complaint with the Fatehpur police, leading to an FIR against Rohit Dixit, Lavlesh Singh, Somkaran, and several unidentified individuals. The three named individuals are reportedly associated with Bajrang Dal.
According to Fatehpur Additional Superintendent of Police VS Mishra, an investigation is underway, and legal action will be taken based on the evidence. No arrests have been made so far.
Rohit Dixit, in his complaint, alleged that on December 26, Shivbadan, along with three associates—Ram Bahadur, Santosh, and Shivpal Paswan—and four unidentified individuals, arrived at his shop in a car. Dixit claimed they pressured him to convert to Christianity, offering him a job at Mission Hospital and financial assistance. When he refused, Dixit alleged that Shivbadan abused him and threatened to file a false case against him.
Based on Dixit’s complaint, an FIR was registered against Shivbadan, Ram Bahadur, Santosh, Shivpal Paswan, and four unidentified individuals.
