3 Swedish nationals arrested, later deported on charges of religious conversion in Assam

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 27, 2022: Three Swedish nationals, who had come to Assam’s Naharkatia area with tourist visas on the pretext of attending "Peace and Healing Prayer Festival", were apprehended on Thursday and booked under The Foreigners Act for allegedly trying to convert locals to Christianity.

 

However, the case registered against them was later dismissed after a discussion between the embassies of India and Sweden and a sessions court issued directions to the district administration and the police to arrange for their deportation.

According to Dibrugarh Police, a Peace and Healing Prayer Festival was organised at Achabam Ghinai playground in Assam’s Naharkatia area between October 25 and 27 by United Churches Fellowship and Bless Assam Mission Network.

On Wednesday, the Swedish nationals, identified as Hannah Mikaela Bloom, Marcus Arne Henrik Bloom, and Susanna Elisabeth Hakanason, on the pretext of the peace meeting, allegedly lured people to the area to seek blessings and instead delivered religious sermons to convert people to Christianity.

Deputy superintendent of police, Namrup, Naba Kumar Borah said, "The three Swedish nationals came for a meeting in Naharkatia with tourist visas and were not supposed to deliver any lectures."

The police cracked down on the Swedish nationals and booked them under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.

"After questioning, police sent the Swedish nationals to Delhi on Thursday, from where they will be deported to Sweden," said Bitul Chetia, assistant superintendent of police, Dibrugarh.

Police also said after the Swedish nationals’ detention, locals living in the tea garden area gathered outside the police station protesting against the arrest of the preachers. Reportedly, many began praying just outside the police station and raised slogans against the administration.

Courtesy: India Today