DANG, April 27: Five people including two foreigners were arrested from Ghorahi on Wednesday on the charge of illegally promoting Christianity. American citizen Cinquanta Oleana May, Indian citizen Gaurav Shrivastav and Nepali citizens Dilli Ram Paudel, Kunsang Tamang and Pramod Kafle were arrested by the police along with promotional materials such as a carton full of bibles.
May, who had been promoting Christianity without a legal permit, was sent to the Department of Immigration (DoI) by the police with a request for deportation. The police are however disappointed after the DoI reportedly let go of May without any charges. “I think they let her go without penalization”, said Superintendent of Police (SP) Bel Bahadur Pande. The police have, however, filed a case against the five accusing them of promoting religious conversion without permission.
Promoting Christianity in jail
Promotion of Christianity illegally has been rapidly increasing in Dang in recent times, according to the police. As informed by SP Pande, foreigners enter Nepal with an excuse of conducting studies but end up conducting religious promotion and conversion.
The records show that mostly foreigners from Japan, Korea and the USA are actively taking part in the religious promotional and conversion activities. The illegal promoters of Christianity reported to be living in Lamahi area have been accused of using various schemes to lure the local people, especially school children, into Christianity by visiting the schools around the district. They are also known for targeting the poor and the ill by providing them financial support.
A group of Japanese citizens are reported to have rented a house in Lamahi, ostensibly to host other Christians who visit the area for the aforementioned purpose. "A group leaves and another arrives,” said a lady from the neighborhood.
