Five Christian men were arrested in Karnataka’s Mandya on charges of forceful conversion. The men were picked up Thursday night and to sent 14 days judicial custody.
Karnataka Police claimed that the local people objected to them distributing pamphlets near church and later brought them to police station.
The five were identified as E.N. Kumara Nagesha and E.N. Vijay Gowda, residents of Kyathanahalli near Malavalli town; K.R. Hemanth Kumar from Kandegala; Sumanth from Mysuru; and S.C. Sandeep, a resident of Chamarajanagar, according to IANS news agency.
The Police also claimed the men were distributing leaflets near the church of Annur village asking Hindus to convert to Christianity.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly in September had passed the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2022.
The “anti-conversion” bill was widely criticised by religious minorities and rights groups.
