Bajrang Dal attacks Christian bhawan in Bihar town

They were apparently protesting against the alleged conversion of poor Hindus by Christians.

Patna:  A group of Bajrang Dal activists Sunday attacked and vandalized the Christian bhawan (building) at a Bihar town, police said.

The incident created panic among the small Christian community -- who demanded police protection for their security -- in Jehanabad town of the same district, 52km from Patna.

"Some Bajrang Dal activists attacked and vandalized the Christian bhawan at Jehanabad town," a district police official said.

They were apparently protesting against the alleged conversion of poor Hindus by Christians.

They also blocked National Highway 83 connecting state capital Patna to Gaya district.

Later, however, the accusation of conversion was proved baseless.

According to police, the activists attacked the building at Jehanabad because the Christian priest at the bhawan had allegedly lured poor Hindus into converting. The latter told the police that some people had informed them that Christians had been practising conversion at the bhawan.

"The fact was that local Christian residents used to gather at the bhawan for weekly prayers as well as to socialise with each other. There was no evidence of conversion," police officials said.

In the last one-and-half months, more than 200 poor Hindus, mostly Mahadalits, embraced Christianity across the state.

The right-wing Hindu organisations -- RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal -- have alleged that the poor Hindus were lured into conversion.

IANS