RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, June 6: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has requested the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Khunti to take necessary legal action on the matter of religious conversion of minors in the district.
NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanoongo made the request taking suo-moto cognizance in the matter based on a news report.
“The commission has taken suo-moto cognizance of a news report wherein it has been brought to the notice of the commission that 12 minor children of Khunti district in Jharkhand have been illegally converted to Christianity by “Torpa Arsee Church”, running in the state of Jharkhand. Through the said news report is also informed that such illegal conversions are taking place in the village from some time now till date no action has been taken by the local government,” the letter requesting the SP to take action reads.
“In the view of the allegations stated in the complaint, it is observed that there is prima facie contravention of various provisions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, violation of Article 25 of the Constitution of India and violation of provisions under Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act 2017,” the letter further reads.
The commission has requested the SP to register an FIR and submit the action taken report to the commission within three days.
On May 21, Gram Pradhan of Kamra under the Torpa police station area of Khunti district, Dhani Guriya, also wrote a letter to this effect to sub-divisional officers of Khunti informing them about the incident. He had submitted a list of the affected persons. The list suggests that the number of juveniles is ten in the age group of 10 to 16. A copy of the letter is available with lagatar24.com.
