A CORRESPONDENT
BOKO: An incident came to light after the Kamrup and Goalpara Christian Forum and All the Christian NGOs of Assam organized a press meet at Santipur village in Chaygaon regarding an incident of conversion of the religion to Christianity from Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma at Valera village in Kamrup on December 4, 2024.
The victims of Bherbheri village alleged that a mob from the Valera village attacked them when they went to the village to attend a dinner party in the Valera village.
During the press meet, a female victim said, “On Wednesday at around 6.00 pm, Nitumani Das, a resident of Valera village under Palashbari LAC, invited us to Na Khawa (New-Rice Party). Accordingly, we were 10 women and 12 men, a total of 22 people from Bhebheri village under Chaygaon Police station and we arrived in the Valera at around 7.00 pm.”
She further alleged, “We went to Nitumani Das’s house as a guest to eat fresh rice. When we arrived at Valera village, Jayanta Das of that village invited us for tea and we went. When we returned from tea at Jayanta Das’s house, some strange youths from the village stopped us and abused us in various ways. Some women were wrapped around their necks with clothes. Then they took some youths and women to the ‘NamGhar’ of Valera village and while being dragged in the Namghar, an elderly woman Madhavi Rabha’s gold earrings fell off and were lost. They beat Rabha and strangled her. The incident occurred at around 8.30 pm.”
However, the people of the Valera village alleged that the group belonging to the Christian religion tried to convert their religion to Christianity from Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma in the Valera village and also tried to hang the Christmas stars in the village. Villagers of the Valera village alleged that the group was trying to convert people by threatening, tempting with money and medical facilities, etc. They said that out of 150 families in the Valera village, four families have already converted to the Christian religion. They also alleged that when the group came to the Valera village to attend the party, people of the Valera village suspected that they brought beef also.
Meanwhile, during the press meet, a woman victim said, “We clarify that our purpose is not to preach and convert religion. We are not missionaries to preach any religion. We Christians, under Pantan Mouza of Chaygaon, say that we did not take any weapons or sticks when we went to Valera village. There are also reports that beef was taken to the village by us, which is completely untrue. Although we are believers in God, we always refrain from doing these things in our homes.”
Thanking the Palashbari police, the victims said, “After a while, the Deputy Inspector of Palashbari Police Station Biswajit Das came and rescued us. We would like to thank him. After we were rescued, we wrote a complaint at about 12.30 pm that night and all of us were medically examined and the Deputy Inspector let us go home at night.”
Rajesh R Marak, President of the All Assam Garo Union said that on December 8, the police arrested one Ashim Rabha while he was sleeping and took him to the Palashbari Police Station. He was sent to jail after two days. They also arrested four people from Valera village and sent them to jail on December 11 for converting. On the other hand, Bhaskar Jyoti Rabha and Nimai Das from the Valera village were summoned to the Palashbari Police Station.
Rajesh R Marak reacted, “I request all the people of Assam and India that the false news spread in our name is completely fabricated. We want to know whether the law does not take any action against those who tear clothes and touch women.” Marak urged the government, “If there is a provision in the Constitution of India, please investigate and give us justice as soon as possible.”
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