Lhakpa Quendren

Samtse—A 52-year-old woman from Yangphelthang, Norbugang, in Samtse has been detained at the Norbugang Police Station for allegedly distributing unsolicited religious pamphlets to her neighbours and stirring tension in the community.

The woman, originally from Tsirang, a resident of Yangphelthang for over two decades, was taken into custody on November 25. The case was forwarded for investigation by the Samtse dzongkhag administration after the Norbugang gewog administration submitted an official complaint from three local residents, received on October 10.

The police have collected statements from the gup, the Dawaling-Yangphelthang tshogpa, two of the three recipients of the religious pamphlets in the community, and the woman who distributed the pamphlets.

The investigation is expected to take some time, as it requires thorough examination, according to police officials.

In an earlier interview, the woman acknowledged distributing the pamphlets but refuted any intention to coerce conversions. She explained that she had merely shared the benefits of her faith.

The incident has ignited concerns about unauthorised religious activities in the gewog. Residents allege that unregistered gatherings, particularly in areas like Maedgang, have been increasing, raising fears of social tensions.

However, this is the first such complaint received by the dzongkhag administration.

A resident urged the authorities to act swiftly. “If left unchecked, such activities could lead to conflicts within families and the community,” he said, adding that some households in the community already practice different religions under one roof, causing internal strife.

A senior resident said, “Religious conversion is a personal choice, but it often influences family and community dynamics. With some residents practicing faiths different from those registered in the census, the potential for tension is significant.”

Tensions also flared after a verbal altercation between the woman’s two sons, aged 27 and 34, and one of the pamphlet recipients over alleged use of slang words and erratic behaviour.

The case has been reported to the gewog administration, and the gup is expected to resolve it in the coming days.

“The sons believe that the case could have been settled internally without reporting it to the gewog administration,” said a source. “However, the matter is beyond the responsibility of the local government and requires the intervention of the relevant authorities.”

Of the 96 households in Yangphelthang, the majority follow Hinduism, followed by Buddhism. Six households reportedly practice Christianity, while one household practices Islam.

While Article 7, Section 4 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, it explicitly prohibits conversions to another faith through coercion or inducement.

All religious activities, even those of registered faiths, require prior government approval.