Police arrest 12 people for forced conversion

Ramnagar: At least 12 people have been arrested for trying to convert their tribes in Kanakapura taluk in Ramnagar district, police said Tuesday.

After gathering certain information, a team of its officers conducted a raid and made an arrest, according to police.

Police said the 12 arrested were arranging large-scale conversions of Hindu tribes in the area. Those arrested were being questioned by the police.

Preliminary investigation revealed that many people belonging to Chikamduwadi Thandia were held in houses in Kanakapura town.

The source said police will investigate the matter further. Details of the incident have not yet been released.

Hindu activists have long advocated forced conversions in the area by Christian missionaries. Earlier, an attempt was made to build the tallest Jesus statue in the world at Kaparabetta in Kanakapura Taluk.

Hindu activists claimed that state council speaker DK Shivakumar was helping build the tallest statue of Jesus Christ in his constituency to impress former AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and other Hindu organizations have announced agitation against the construction of the Jesus Christ statue at Kapalabetta. The Karnataka State High Court subsequently issued an order to stop the construction work and issued a directive that no work should be carried out without a permit.