Christian relief workers implicated on false charges

The Orissa police have arrested seven Christian relief workers, November 4 on allegations of conversion by allurement under 153A/4IPC of section 4 - Orissa Freedom of Religious Act.

According to GCIC, a Christian advocacy group based in Bangalore, the staff of Discipleship Center, an NGO in Bhadrak district were arrested on false charges.

"The NGO has been doing social welfare work for a long time in the area. They were engaged in arranging relief materials to be delivered to the flood affected victims, when they were arrested," GCIC said.

A minor accident involving the staff and two bicyclists led to a welcome of over 500 Hindu radicals who injured the men. They were handed over to the police on charges of "forceful conversion".

"Two First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against the DC staffs for 'forced' conversion and for the accident. The social workers have also filed a counter case against the perpetrators," sources said.