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Imran Khan in Bhubaneswar
About 24 harijans have converted to Christianity in the Angul district of Orissa, district officials said on Thursday.
The officials said the harijans belonged to the Annatpalli village, adding that the conversion took place early this week in the village in a simple ceremony.
The district officials said that the harijans converted to Christianity without any force or inducement.
"They have converted as per their desire and there are no reports of luring on the part of priests," officials said.
But right wing Hindu organisations said that the conversions were effected by Christian priests in the village in the garb of helping them.
Subhash Chauhan, the convenor of Hindu Jagran Sammukhya, an outfit affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, alleged that the harijans had converted for money.
The outfit claimed that some of the harijans have reconverted to Hinduism.
Earlier, four harijan families comprising 19 members in all had converted to Christianity in Korua village of Orissa's Kendrapara district in early July this year.
However, some of them later reconverted to Hinduism in August.
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