​​​​​​​Swedish nationals deported from Assam, after initial charge of conversion to Christianity

Three Swedish nationals, who had come to Assam's Naharkatia area on tourist visas to attend “Peace and Healing Prayer Festival”, have been deported.

According to information available, the three were initially apprehended on Thursday and booked under The Foreigners Act for allegedly trying to convert locals to Christianity.

Following this, the officials of the Swedish embassy intervened and the charges of conversion against them were dropped and the sessions court ordered that the three should be deported.

The Peace and Healing Prayer Festival was organised by United Churches Fellowship and Bless Assam Mission Network at Achabam Ghinai playground in Assam's Naharkatia area between October 25 and 27.

It is alleged that though the Swedish nationals, Hannah Mikaela Bloom, Marcus Arne Henrik Bloom, and Susanna Elisabeth Hakanason, has claimed that they had come to attend the peace meeting, they lured people in the region, to seek blessings and 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."

Assistant Superintendent of Police Dibrugarh, Bitul Chetia stated, "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.