Three held for conversion bid

BANGALORE: Three,
including a woman, were arrested on charges of proselytism by the HAL
Airport police on Sunday. They were allegedly trying to lure people to
convert with promises of better jobs overseas.

The incident came
to light when the residents of Murugeshpalya nabbed Rama Reddy (26)
hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Mike Barabas (35) and his wife Asmira
Barbas of Karwar, when they were trying to convert the locals on Sunday
morning. The arrest was made following a complaint filed by Prabhod
Kumar of Murugeshpalya.

“Three people, including the couple,
tried to convince us that our religion and God were not real and that
we have suffered enough. They even told that our God was responsible
for our poor lifestyle. If we converted to their religion, they said
they could offer us a better living overseas and financial support,”
the residents said.

As they tried to approach a bigger group, the
locals held them and handed them over to the Airport police. Books,
handouts and other materials used for conversion were seized from them. 

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