SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 8: Conversion of two tribal families into Christianity has triggered tension in Sabalpur village under Baliapur block, around 17 km away from the district headquarters. The villagers have set a 48 hours ultimatum to them to either return to Sarna dharma fold or face a social boycott.
In the wake of the tense situation, the Baliapur police station officer-in-charge, Sweta Singh reached the village with force today morning and talked to the tribal chiefs of the region to solve the issue. “Though no one has lodged any complaint in the police station about it, I reached here with police to maintain peace after receiving the information,” she said.
Tribals of Sabalpur village reportedly held a meeting on Sunday under Majhi Haram (tribal chief), Anil Tudu and directed both the converted families of Shyampad Tudu and Sahdev Tudu to either return to Sarna dharma by Monday evening or face a social boycott from villagers’ side.
Shyampado Tudu and Sahdev Tudu admitted to have converted to Christianity last year at Asansol Church (West Bengal) with family members to get rid of some disease. Shyampado revealed at the village meeting that his eight years old sick son overcame the disease after the family adopted Christianity.
Similarly, Sahdev Tudu explained that he has tuberculosis (TB) and he believes Christianity would get him to recover from it.
Villagers alleged that both families are poor and roaming Fathers from the Church lured them to convert to Christianity in the name of curing disease.
“Disease can’t be controlled by converting one’s religion. So, both families have to return to the Sarna dharma fold in 48 hours,” announced Anil Tudu at the meeting.
This is the second time conversion of tribal people into Christianity has rocked the Baliapur region. Last year, VHP and Bajrang Dal activists had sabotaged a Church stealthily constructed in Benagaria township of Jharia fire zone. The activists drove out the Fathers from the area after getting alleged information that they were converting poor families. The District administration has set up a probe over these conversions.
