02-12-2006, 02:48 AM
"Missionaries leave Uri after allegations of conversion"
("UNI," February 10, 2006)
Srinagar, India - A Christian missionary organisation, <b>engaged in relief and rehabilitation work</b> <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo--> in earthquake-ravaged Uri area of Jammu and Kashmir, has to abandon its operations following <b>massive protests by the survivors against its alleged involvement in ''conversion''</b> of the people of the far-flung villages.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Baramulla Ashkoor Wani told UNI that the Christian missionary organisation was engaged in relief and rehabilitation work in Madiyan and Kamalkote villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in quake-hit Uri area.
<b>However, some locals later complained to the police that the missionary workers were using earthquake relief as a means to carry out conversions, he added. </b>
The villagers alleged that the <b>missionaries were distributing religious material in the garb of ''relief'' and promising the people of money and houses ''in lieu of change of faith''. </b>
They locals said the missionaries had recently distributed gas cylinders, water bottles, audio cassettes and a copy of the New Testament in Urdu besides other material to each family in the villages.
When searches were conducted, the police seized a pack containing cassettes propagating Christianity, Urdu translations of the New Testament and other religious material, the SSP said.
A case was later registered against the organisation, which claimed to be the <b>Kashmir chapter of the Bible Society of India</b> and investigations launched into the matter, he added.
There were massive protests by the people, demanding the organisation be asked to leave the place.
''Following complaints and the seizure, we asked the organisation to behave. We will not allow such activities to take place. We have taken proper care and the <b>NGO</b> has since ended its relief operations in the area,'' Mr Wani said.
("UNI," February 10, 2006)
Srinagar, India - A Christian missionary organisation, <b>engaged in relief and rehabilitation work</b> <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo--> in earthquake-ravaged Uri area of Jammu and Kashmir, has to abandon its operations following <b>massive protests by the survivors against its alleged involvement in ''conversion''</b> of the people of the far-flung villages. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Baramulla Ashkoor Wani told UNI that the Christian missionary organisation was engaged in relief and rehabilitation work in Madiyan and Kamalkote villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in quake-hit Uri area.
<b>However, some locals later complained to the police that the missionary workers were using earthquake relief as a means to carry out conversions, he added. </b>
The villagers alleged that the <b>missionaries were distributing religious material in the garb of ''relief'' and promising the people of money and houses ''in lieu of change of faith''. </b>
They locals said the missionaries had recently distributed gas cylinders, water bottles, audio cassettes and a copy of the New Testament in Urdu besides other material to each family in the villages.
When searches were conducted, the police seized a pack containing cassettes propagating Christianity, Urdu translations of the New Testament and other religious material, the SSP said.
A case was later registered against the organisation, which claimed to be the <b>Kashmir chapter of the Bible Society of India</b> and investigations launched into the matter, he added.
There were massive protests by the people, demanding the organisation be asked to leave the place.
''Following complaints and the seizure, we asked the organisation to behave. We will not allow such activities to take place. We have taken proper care and the <b>NGO</b> has since ended its relief operations in the area,'' Mr Wani said.