Surat: Hindu organizations gathered at Rajmahal Mall in the Dindoli area on Saturday, raising slogans and alleging that Christian missionaries were involved in converting members of economically weaker Hindu families. As the situation became tense, the local police and Udhna MLA Manu Patel also arrived at the scene. Police detained four individuals for questioning, and the matter was later resolved following written apologies from those involved.

According to reports, members of Hindu organizations claimed that the alleged conversions were being carried out by offering monetary incentives of ₹20,000–₹25,000 per family and an additional ₹5,000 to intermediaries facilitating the process. They further alleged that such activities had been taking place for the past two to three months.

As the situation escalated, MLA Manu Patel and a team from Dindoli Police reached the location to assess the situation. Police subsequently inspected an office operated by a Christian group on the fourth floor of the mall. Following a thorough investigation, police stated that no suspicious or unlawful activity related to religious conversion was found. Statements from both parties were recorded, including those of seven individuals among them the couple at the centre of the allegations. Relevant documents were also seized for verification.

MLA Manu Patel warned that if such incidents were reported again in the future, strict action would be taken to safeguard the cultural and religious values of the Hindu community.

Dindoli Police Station’s Second PI, Khushali Chauhan, said that a search was conducted at the shop on the fourth floor of Rajmahal Mall following the complaint regarding alleged religious conversion. “The couple produced documents, including a copy of the rental agreement, which clearly stated that the shop had been rented to start a church and that they would read the Bible there. No religious conversion activity was found,” Chauhan said.

She added that while the couple was reading the Bible, a few young men from a nearby gym passed by and questioned them about their activities. “When they didn’t receive a satisfactory reply, a misunderstanding led to the complaint,” she said. DeshGujarat