It could’ve been a regular Sunday morning for 35-year-old Deeksha Paul as she prepared for weekly prayers at her home in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun with her family, a relative, and neighbours last week.

But a group of Hindutva activists allegedly barged into the house, assaulted at least seven of those present inside, vandalised the prayer room and bedroom, made derogatory remarks against the Christian faith, and accused all of them of forced conversions. 

An FIR has been lodged against 11 accused at Nehru Colony police station under the relevant BNS sections – 115(2) for voluntarily causing hurt, 191(2) for rioting, 299 for deliberating outraging religious feelings, 324(4) for destruction of property, 333 for trespass, 351 (2) for threat, and 352 for intentional insult.

The accused have been identified as Devendra Dobhal, Bijendra Thapa, Sadhir Thapa, Sanjeev Paul, Sudhir Paul, Dhirendra Dhobal, Arman Dhobal, Aryaman Dhobal, Anil Hindu, Bhupesh Joshi, and Bijendra. 

Satbir Singh, investigating officer at the Nehru Colony police station, told Newslaundry, “No religious conversion was taking place at the house. People from Hindutva outfits have misbehaved with the family members and vandalised their house.”

A video of the incident reviewed by Newslaundry showed a group of men vandalising a cross podium and musical equipment in a room, and engaging in assault. 

Deeksha’s husband Rajesh Bhoomi is a pastor and owns an eatery in Haridwar. “They misbehaved with the children too. They slapped their heads and asked them why do you participate in this prayer? They told them to never take part in Sunday prayers in future,” he said about the incident which took place on July 14.

Deeksha Paul alleged the group was led by Devendra Dobhal, who claims to be a former army man and RSS functionary on his Facebook profile. 

“When they kept banging on our door, I finally opened it and asked them what’s the matter. And without even talking to me, they just barged inside and started accusing us of religious conversion…I told them whatever problem you have with us, we can sit and discuss. But they did not listen to me. Instead, they started shouting at us. They said that people from our faith drink blood and our women do not apply sindoor. I told them that whatever I do in my personal life is none of your business…after that, they vandalised our house.”

“They did not answer anything and vandalised our prayer room. They threw our laptop on the floor and then entered our bedroom and vandalised it too…then they thrashed all of us, especially women…all this in front of children. My daughter is just one-year-old and my son is six. Children of my tenants were also present there who are just two and five years old.”’

Newslaundry reached out to the RSS Dehradun unit. Newslaundry also reached out to Devendra Dobhal for comment. This report will be updated if a response is received. 

Dehradun VHP head Vikas Verma said, “It is true that some of the accused were members of Hindutva outfits. These actions are voluntarily taken by them to curb the rising cases of religious conversion in Uttarakhand.”

However, investigating officer Satbir Singh said the police should have been approached “even if the family was involved in religious conversion”. “The incident has left the family traumatised.” 

Police are yet to make any arrest. “Police are investigating the matter and a chargesheet will be filed soon,” Singh said.

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