MP: Vidisha St Joseph Convent School vandalised by Hindu organisations after alleged religious conversion of 8 students

The St Joseph's School in Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh witnessed a vandalisation by the Hindu right-wing groups. The group justified this violence by alleging that the school authorities have converted eight of its students into Christians and that the land on which the school stands is not for commercial purposes.

Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh): The St Joseph's Convent School in Vidisha was vandalised by the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations alleging that the school was indulging in religious conversions of its students. A group of people damaged the school building by pelting stones at it while raising slogans in front of the school. Four of the accused have been arrested after a thorough investigation by the local police.

Nilesh Agrawal, head of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, said that the land on which the school currently stands was donated for the construction of a hospital by Rajesh Mathur, a resident of Ganj Basoda here. But, instead of the hospital, a convent school was built here for commercial profits. He further claimed that the students here are charged with a hefty fee.

• विदिशा जिले के गंजबासौदा में मिशनरी स्कूल पर पथराव की घटना में 4 लोग हिरासत में लिए गए हैं।
  
  स्थानीय पुलिस पूरे मामले की जांच कर रही है। इस तरह की घटना की पुनरावृत्ति न हो इसके निर्देश भी दिए गए हैं।@mohdept @vidishadm pic.twitter.com/jHDPhDYKO5

  — Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) December 7, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  विदिशा जिले के गंजबासौदा में मिशनरी स्कूल पर पथराव की घटना में 4 लोग हिरासत में लिए गए हैं।
  
  स्थानीय पुलिस पूरे मामले की जांच कर रही है। इस तरह की घटना की पुनरावृत्ति न हो इसके निर्देश भी दिए गए हैं।@mohdept @vidishadm pic.twitter.com/jHDPhDYKO5

  — Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) December 7, 2021

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  विदिशा जिले के गंजबासौदा में मिशनरी स्कूल पर पथराव की घटना में 4 लोग हिरासत में लिए गए हैं।
  
  स्थानीय पुलिस पूरे मामले की जांच कर रही है। इस तरह की घटना की पुनरावृत्ति न हो इसके निर्देश भी दिए गए हैं।@mohdept @vidishadm pic.twitter.com/jHDPhDYKO5

  — Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) December 7, 2021

The main reason that fueled this violence was Agrawal's claim that eight children studying in the school have been converted into Christianity. In regard to these allegations, he demanded that the Chief Minister and the District Collector should take note of this issue and investigation should be taken up against the school.

The incident happened on Monday when Class 12 students' exams were going on. Due to the violence, the students had to be shifted to a safer place.

The SDM of Ganj Basoda, Roshan Rai, reached the school premises soon after learning about the incident. Also, a heavy posse of police personnel has been deployed around the school. The SDM said that he has received a memorandum in which the conversion of children is mentioned. "We are investigating the whole episode. We will get in touch with the school management and do a full investigation," he assured.

The Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Narottam Mishra, has tweeted a video ensuring that the matter shall be looked into and strict actions will be taken against the perpetrators.