Chennai: City police have registered an FIR based on a complaint by an American national that members of the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) assaulted him on Thursday accusing the expat of attempt to convert Muslims to Christianity.
William Keith Butler, 39, who came to India five years ago on a business visa has been living in Thoraipakkam off Rajiv Gandhi Salai for the last five years. About six months ago, the American got acquainted with Abdul Hassan (35) of Mariamman Koil street in Pallavaram through a business meet.
Ever since, the expat used to visit Abdul's house now and then. This has raised suspicions in the neighbourhood- where most of the families are Muslims. Police sources said the neighbours enquired with Abdul and found that William Butler used to conduct prayers in his house and also tried to attempt them to Christianity.
This did not go down well with the members of the TNTJ who summoned William Butler on Thursday to Pallavaram and assaulted him. Later in the day, both the parties filed a complaint against each other - the American accusing the TNTJ members for assaulting him and the other group saying that he indulged in forced conversion. Police issued a Community Service Register (CSR) to both the parties.
A senior police officer said that it was true that the American national had talks with the family about conversion, but there was no coercion. Meanwhile, on Friday, Pallavaram police registered a FIR on charges of wrongful confinement and assault against Abdul Hassan and eight others based on the American's complaint. Further investigations are on.
