SITAPUR:  A couple has been detained under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act for allegedly pressuring people to convert to Christianity while they were touring Sitapur with Brazilian tourists.

David Ashthana, the primary suspect, was taken into custody late on Monday night.

A resident of Sehbajpur village named Naimish Gupta filed a FIR, stating that four Brazilian tourists namely, Rivaldo Joses DaSilva, Magnolia Maro Laronzera, Gulheram Nasimento Edalgo, and Alexander D'Silva. "They met the villagers and tried to force them to convert," Gupta said.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, the circle officer for Mahmoodabad, said: "After receiving information from Naimish Gupta, a police squad arrived in the area. The Brazilians told us they were visiting the Lucknowian couple to Sitapur on a tourist visa.  An investigation is underway and the tourists will be questioned. We have lodgef a case against David and his wife. They were not able to explain why they took the tourists to a small village in Sitapur," Prasad said.

He said that the villagers' statements would also be recorded before initiating further action.

Police said it is yet to be set up how the tourists came in touch with the couple.

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