<p>Eight poor Mahadalits, including a woman, converted to Christianity in a village in Bihar's Munger district, an official said Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"It is a fact that eight of them converted to Christianity at Ratanpura village under Sangrampur block in Munger, about 180 km from here, a few days back," the official said.<br /><br />The converts told a team of district officials, who visited the village to probe the case Friday following district magistrate Amrendra Prasad Singh's orders, that they had changed their religion to lead a life of honour and dignity, officials added.<br /><br />Prakash Manjhi, one of the eight who converted, performed the last rites of his mother as per Christian rituals. <br /><br />"Manjhi had buried his mother according to Christian rituals last week," said officials.<br />Manjhi and the others informed the officials that they were inspired by the head of a local mission school and priest Sukhlal Soren.<br /><br />Singh told IANS over the telephone that Soren had made it clear to him that it was not a conversion. <br /><br />"Soren has denied conversion and claimed that they have expressed faith in Jesus Christ. But I have asked two officials to inquire into the matter and they are likely to submit their report Saturday," Singh said.<br /><br />A couple of days back, three of the dozen Hindus who converted to Christianity in two villages in Bhagalpur district returned to the Hindu fold after they were threatened with a social boycott.<br /><br />Nearly a dozen poor Hindus, including women, were converted to Christianity at Barohiya village and Gangaldeh villages in Bhagalpur district, 200 km from here, early this week.<br /><br />Three of those who converted to Christianity have returned to Hindu fold at a 'ghar wapasi' (returning home) ceremony by the VHP, a police official said.<br /></p>
<p>Eight poor Mahadalits, including a woman, converted to Christianity in a village in Bihar's Munger district, an official said Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"It is a fact that eight of them converted to Christianity at Ratanpura village under Sangrampur block in Munger, about 180 km from here, a few days back," the official said.<br /><br />The converts told a team of district officials, who visited the village to probe the case Friday following district magistrate Amrendra Prasad Singh's orders, that they had changed their religion to lead a life of honour and dignity, officials added.<br /><br />Prakash Manjhi, one of the eight who converted, performed the last rites of his mother as per Christian rituals. <br /><br />"Manjhi had buried his mother according to Christian rituals last week," said officials.<br />Manjhi and the others informed the officials that they were inspired by the head of a local mission school and priest Sukhlal Soren.<br /><br />Singh told IANS over the telephone that Soren had made it clear to him that it was not a conversion. <br /><br />"Soren has denied conversion and claimed that they have expressed faith in Jesus Christ. But I have asked two officials to inquire into the matter and they are likely to submit their report Saturday," Singh said.<br /><br />A couple of days back, three of the dozen Hindus who converted to Christianity in two villages in Bhagalpur district returned to the Hindu fold after they were threatened with a social boycott.<br /><br />Nearly a dozen poor Hindus, including women, were converted to Christianity at Barohiya village and Gangaldeh villages in Bhagalpur district, 200 km from here, early this week.<br /><br />Three of those who converted to Christianity have returned to Hindu fold at a 'ghar wapasi' (returning home) ceremony by the VHP, a police official said.<br /></p>