Chhattisgarh: Villagers attack church over 'religious conversion', IPS officer hurt in stone-pelting

Narayanpur (Chhattisgarh): An IPS officer was hospitalised after sustaining a head injury during stone-pelting by thousands of irate tribal villagers, including women, who targeted a church while protesting here on Monday against alleged conversion attempts at Edka village in this restive district of Left-wing extremism-affected Bastar division.

SP Sadanand Kumar was admitted at the District infirmary with four stitches to the head. The Edka SHO was attacked earlier. The district border has been sealed.

A cane-charge was ordered against an opposition BJP leader who allegedly led the mob. A heavy force – including ITBP and BSF personnel – has been deployed to bring the situation under control.

A flag march was taken out. IG (Bastar Range) Sundarraj Pattilingam, neighbouring Kondagaon district’s SP Divyang Patel, 16th Battalion Commandant Jitendra Shukla and Mr Pushpendra Sharma – who is in charge of Anti-Naxal Operations – are camping at ground zero.

About a week back, members of the Christian community reached Edka village but were driven away by locals. The following day, numerous Christians descended on the place and beat up the rustics.

On Sunday, a few Christians again reached Edka and exerted pressure vis-à-vis conversion. When the villagers resisted, they were thrashed. (UNI)