Two US nationals arrested for participating in alleged ‘religious conversion’ in Assam
text_fields
Assam police detained and fined two United States nationals, identified as John Matthew Boone and Michael James Flinchum for participating in a religious meet while on tourist visas in India last week. The incident occurred during the inauguration of a Baptist Christian association office on January 31.
Sonitpur Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Madhurima Das revealed that the police had notified the Foreigner Regional Registration Office in Kolkata regarding the violation of visa norms. The two US nationals are likely to receive Leave-India notices. A fine of $500 was imposed on them before their release.
According to ASP Das, the Baptist association had organized a building inauguration function in Tezpur, where Baptist leaders from various parts of Assam had gathered. However, the incomplete state of the building raised suspicions, leading authorities to conclude that the US nationals might have been engaged in conversion activities. Their participation in religious events is deemed inappropriate as they were in the country on tourist visas.
The detention follows the Assam government's directive in October 2022 to monitor foreigners engaging in conversion activities in violation of visa norms. This move was prompted by the detention and deportation of 27 foreign nationals, including individuals from Bangladesh, Sweden, and Germany, who were preaching at religious events in Assam within a month.
The latest incident coincides with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's recent emphasis on protecting indigenous faiths from conversion activities. Speaking at the 8th International Conference and Gathering of Elders organized by the International Centre for Cultural Studies in Dibrugarh, Sarma expressed concern about missionary activities impacting indigenous communities.
"Unfortunately, indigenous communities in India often become the target of conversion efforts by mainstream religions. Missionary activities carried out by various religious groups can result in a decline in the population practicing indigenous faith," Sarma emphasized during the conference.
