Religious Conversion Row: NCPCR Chief Says Priests Spreading Superstition, Misleading Children

NCPCR chief also advised people to submit their complaints and recordings to 'cp.ncpcr@nic.in' and not to share the films on social media in order to protect children's privacy.

NCPCR Chief Priyank Kanoongo.

Source : Twitter/@KanoongoPriyank

Priyank Kanoongo, Chairman of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), tweeted on Thursday that there have been complaints regarding priests promoting superstition in the guise of treating children and deceiving them towards conversion.

Taking to Twitter, NCPCR chief stated: “Some complaints have been received from Punjab and Rajasthan about priests spreading superstition in the name of treatment of children and misleading them for conversion, action is being taken."

बच्चों के इलाज के नाम पर अंधविश्वास फैलाने व धर्मांतरण के लिए भ्रमित करने वाले पादरियों के बारे में पंजाब व राजस्थान की कुछ शिकायतें मिली हैं,कार्यवाही की जा रही है।
शिकायतें व विडीओ मुझे cp.ncpcr@nic.in पर ईमेल करें,विडीओ सोशल मीडिया पर प्रसारित न करें,बच्चों की निजता बनाए रखें।

— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) September 29, 2022

He also advised people to submit their complaints and recordings to 'cp.ncpcr@nic.in' and not to share the films on social media in order to protect children's privacy.

Priyank Kanoongo had already booked a visit to the area to speak with the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police following two horrifying incidences of atrocities against underage girls in Jharkhand's Dumka.

“The Commission has come across with yet another incident of alleged rape and murder of a minor tribal girl by a man named Arman Ansari…under Mufassil police station on Friday. The accused, identified as Arman Ansari, has been arrested and a case has been registered under relevant sections of IPC, POCSO and SC-ST Act,” an official notice from NCPCR was quoted by ANI in its report.

“In addition to the scheduled visit of NCPCR team led by Shri Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson, NCPCR to Dumka on 5th September 2022, as conveyed vide letter dated 31.8.2022, the team will also take stock of the status of the said incident on 5th September 2022, by convening a meeting with DC, SP, Investigating Officer of the case and Doctors who conducted the autopsy of the minor victim girl, besides to meet/interact with the family members of the deceased minor girl,” it added.

Jharkhand Police had previously stated that they have filed a rape and murder charge against the suspects in the case of the juvenile girl who was discovered hanged in a field in Dumka on Saturday.

“Rape and murder case registered under the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and SC/ST Act. Accused Armaan Ansari was arrested. We want to collect evidence and file a chargesheet soon,” Amber Lakra, Superintendent of Police, Dumka said. 

The case involves the discovery of a 14-year-old indigenous girl hanging from a tree.

According to accounts, the girl was raped, murdered, and hung from a tree in Dumka after being sexually abused by a guy under the guise of marriage.

This comes only days after another juvenile girl was set fire in the area on August 23 by one Shahrukh Moin. On August 28, the girl died as a result of her injuries.

However, two terrible occurrences have also turned political. On Twitter, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey stated that the young girl was 3-months pregnant and criticised the Hemant Soren administration in Jharkhand for the escalating atrocities committed against Dalit girls.

“From the news received from the relatives of the minor girl in Dumka, it appears that the girl was 3 months pregnant. This should be investigated. “Grooming gangs” are active in Jharkhand, in which Bangladeshi Muslim boys, are exploiting underage Dalits and tribal girls and the Soren government is sleeping,” Dubey said in a tweet.

“Hanging body of a girl found in Dumka. She was hanging by a tree. One accused has been arrested. The investigation is underway. All facts and other things are being ascertained,” Dumka Police had said on Saturday.

(With Inputs From ANI)