By Web Desk
Incidents of right-wing atrocities targeting the Christian community as Christmas nears have been reported in several states across the country, and in Madhya Pradesh, Hindutva groups stormed a church and manhandled a visually impaired woman, which was caught on video, alleging that church authorities were indulging in coerced conversions of visually impaired children, a claim rejected by the police authorities.
The incident occurred on Monday at a church located behind Hawabagh Women’s College in Jabalpur, where members of several right-wing organisations, accompanied by BJP district vice-president Anju Bhargava, entered the premises following allegations of forced religious conversion involving visually impaired students brought there for a Christmas-related outreach programme, according to The Indian Express.
What began as accusations soon escalated into a confrontation inside the church, during which Bhargava was seen engaging in a physical altercation with a visually impaired woman, scenes of which were recorded on mobile phones and widely circulated on social media.
The footage shows Bhargava confronting the seated woman, during which physical contact was made, prompting the woman to retaliate by holding Bhargava’s arm and repeatedly gesturing for her not to touch her, as others present attempted to intervene amid rising tensions. Police later arrived at the scene, restored order, and dispersed the gathering, after which the visually impaired students were sent back to their government-run hostel.
According to police officials, the students had been invited for a meal and prayers as part of charitable activities associated with Christmas, and initial statements recorded from them indicated that no attempt had been made to forcibly convert them.
This story was originally published in madhyamamonline.com. Read the full story here.