BHIWANDI: The Bhiwandi taluka police late Friday arrested a 58-year-old US national, who is in India on a business visa, and two local residents for allegedly attempting to convert villagers in Chimbipada to Christianity.According to the police, the alleged bid was made during a prayer meet in Chimbipada village on Friday. The accused have been identified as James Watson (58), a US national currently staying in Thane, Sainath Ganpati Sarpe (42) of Palghar and Manoj Govind Kolha (35) of Chimbipada, Bhiwandi.All three have been booked under Sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 302 (intentionally hurting religious sentiments) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Foreigners Act (for misusing visa norms), and Maharashtra’s 2013 anti-black magic law.Senior inspector Harshavardhan Barve said Watson had come to India on a business visa, which he was misusing for religious activity. “Further probe is on,” he said. The case was filed based on a complaint by a local resident Ravinath Bhurkut.Police said that on Friday, a prayer meet was held outside the house of Kolha, for which 35 villagers had gathered. There, Watson and his aides allegedly read from books they had brought in a vehicle and preached about Christianity. According to the complaint, the accused told the villagers that Hinduism was based on superstition and embracing Christianity would bring them happiness and prosperity.The complaint said Watson and his aides claimed illness could be cured through prayers to Christ and by consuming wine offered as “prasad.” The complaint stated the accused asked if any children had illnesses and noted the names of 4 girls, who were “forcibly detained”, after which Watson placed his hands on their foreheads, claiming he was channelling “divine power” to heal them.
