Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Brahmavar (SP)

Brahmavar, Oct 11: Alleging that religious conversion of Hindus is going on at Hallady-Harkady village within the jurisdiction of Kota police station on a large scale, and demanding stern action against people involved with such activities, activists of Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) tried to stage a flash protest in front of Kota police station on the night of Sunday October 10.

It is said that a family which has changed its religion from being a Hindu family previously, has been offering lures to the members of particularly the Bovi community living locally. Reportedly they have succeeded in converting several Hindus into another religion. On Sunday October 10 too several people were invited to attend a prayer programme held in a house in Hallady-Harkady. Members of the Jagarana Vedike, who came to know of the incident, informed the police. The police, on their part, went there and took six to seven people into custody.

Hundreds of Hindu activists, after coming to know of the incident, gathered in the police station premises at Kota and poured out their anger about such things. They also sought stringent action against the culprits. Kota station house officer Santosh B P, held talks with the Vedike leaders and succeeded in easing the tension. The locals have registered complaint against Jyoti, Prakash, Manohar and Ravi, who reportedly are involved with religious conversions.

Bovi district unit honorary president, Jagadish Kedoor, said that thousands of people from his community living in Saibrakatte, Shiriyara, Hallady-Harkady, Kedoor and others, have been converted into another religion by offering different lures. He said that if this is allowed to be continued, his community faces the danger of losing its association with Hinduism and sought legal action against the concerned.

District leader of the Vedike, Jagadish Kukkehalli, speaking on the occasion, urged the police to take strong action as illegal religious conversion is happening in the district on a large scale.

Jagarana Vedike leaders, Chandra Acharya Shiriyara, PraveenYakshimatha, Shankar Devadiga Kota, Bovi Sangha district leaders, Arun Kalvara, Ganesh Ulloor, Anand Saibrakatte, and Pramod Hande etc were present.

Kota police station police sub-inspector (crime) Pushpa, Brahmavar station house officer Gurunath Hadimane, and Malpe police circle inspector Sharanabasappa got involved with handling law and order situation.