Drama after anganwadi worker accused of conversion, complaints lodged

VIJAYAPURA: High drama prevailed for some time at Uppaladinni tanda in Basavana Bagewadi taluk on Friday when an anganwadi worker, accused of conversion by the villagers, threatened to commit suicide.

Recently, the villagers had written to the tahsildar alleging that the anganwadi worker Vijayalakshmi Ashok Kumar was indulging in religious conversion and sought action. Following this, the tahsildar arrived in the tanda along with the police to hold a peace meeting when the villagers reiterated their charge.

The anganwadi worker threatened to commit suicide and name one of the villagers for her death.

An angry Vijayalakshmi then got into an argument with the village leaders saying that conversion was her prerogative. “I am facing no problems from the villagers. I reject the allegations that I am converting people, I will commit suicide”, she threatened.

The anganwadi worker later lodged a complaint with the Basavana Bagewadi police against the villagers while the tanda leaders too lodged a complaint against her. In view of the tension, a posse of policemen have camped in the village.