A Hindu man has accused his in-laws of forcing him to convert to Christianity to continue living with his wife and visit his newborn. A resident of Hosadurga in Karnataka, the man has alleged that he was baptised by force before marriage and his father-in-law wants him to convert to see his wife and newborn baby.
Marappa, a 24 year old living in Budga Jangam Colony near hospet in Chitradurga district has accused his converted in-laws of not allowing him to visit his wife and newborn baby. He has accused Vasanthakumar, his father-in-law, Ramachandrappa, wife’s grandfather and three relatives Sudhakar, Manjunath and Sankappa of threatening, blackmailing and assaulting him in an attempt to make him embrace Christianity when he went to visit his wife. Marappa had married the woman on July 6, 2020. He was forced into taking a dip in water and declared as a Christian during the marriage ceremony which was conducted as per Christian religious customs.
Marappa has complained that his in-laws had burnt and torn the pictures of Hindu deities calling them evil and asking him to not worship them. TOI reported him as saying, “My wife Sarala and her parents have been practicing Christianity for the past 5-6 years.They got me married to Sarala on July 6, 2020 as per Christian customs. My family did not believe in Christianity and in a month, we went back to the Hindu-fold. My father also told my wife to leave Christianity and come back home within three months. But her father did not allow her to get back to Hinduism”.
Marappa has further said that they abused Hindu deities saying “Hindu deities Sunklamma, Maramma, Durgamma are evil” and that he would go to hell if he worshiped them. He had sent his wife to the in-laws to give birth. But he wasn’t even told about the birth. When he heard about it from neighbors and his brothers Doddahusseni, Sana Husseni, Karthik and Chandru went to see the baby, Marappa’s in-laws had abused them and didn’t let them see the baby. They were told that only if Marappa converted to Christianity he’ll be allowed to see his newborn baby and wife.
Marappa has filed a police complaint seeking to take action against the accused and reunite him with his wife and baby. Last month there were allegations of mass conversion in Chitradurga district following which the district administration was directed to submit an inquiry report. However the tehsildar had said in the report that all the conversions were voluntary. Now it has come to light that a man is not even allowed to see his child and live with his wife for not submitting to Christian fanatics’ demand to convert.
