Couple in UP booked for forced conversion to Christianity

SITAPUR [UTTAR PRADESH]: A couple, visiting Sitapur along with tourists from Brazil, has been booked under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act for allegedly forcing people to convert to Christianity.

The main accused, David Ashthana, was arrested late on Monday night.

Naimish Gupta, a resident of Sehbajpur village, lodged an FIR alleging that a couple from Lucknow, David Asthana and Rohini Asthana, reached their village with Brazilian tourists, identified as Rivaldo Joses DaSilva, Magnolia Maro Laronzera, Gulheram Nasimento Edalgo and Alexander D'Silva.

"They met the villagers and tried to force them to convert," Gupta said.

Circle Officer Mahmoodabad, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said, "A police team reached the village after getting information from Naimish Gupta. The Brazilians informed us that they were here on a tourist visa and were visiting Sitapur with the couple from Lucknow.

Investigation is underway and the tourists will be questioned. We have registered a case against David and his wife. They were not able to explain why they took the tourists to a small village in Sitapur," Prasad said.

He said that the statements of villagers would also be recorded before initiating further action.

Police said it is yet to be established how the tourists came in touch with the couple.