The police have arrested five persons including two foreigners on charge of proselytizing under financial influence.
Dang Police has arrested an American woman Cinquanta Oleana May, Indian citizen Gaurav Srivastav, general secretary of Christian Society Dilli Ram Paudel, Kunsang Tamang of Sankhuwasabha and vehicle driver Pramod Kafle of Nepalgunj from a hotel in Ghorahi on Tuesday. They have been accused of converting locals to Christianity by promising financial assistance.
SP Bel Bahadur Pandey said a case of religious conversion under influence, as per clause 158(2) of the Criminal Code, has been lodged against the three Nepalis and the Indian national while Dang Police has already written to the Immigration Department requesting deportation of the American citizen.
The police recovered a Mahindra Scorpio jeep (Ba 13 Cha 3196), envelopes filled with cash, a case of bibles, vaporizers for asthma patients, laptop, USB drives and other materials from the hotel.
SP Pandey claimed that police investigations have showed that they were involved in converting locals to Christianity by doling out cash and promising many other things.
The Dang Police is under immense pressure from the central government to release the five persons, according to a police source.
