The deputy sarpanch and few other residents of Chikhalda village in Tapi district have requested the district collector to deny permission to Christian missionaries to hold a four-day prayer function in the village.

Handing over a memorandum to the district collector, the residents have appealed that he should not allow members of the Christian missionary at Chikhalda village to go ahead with their event, scheduled to begin from February 12.

Deputy sarpanch Kamlesh Gamit and his supporters have said in their memorandum that such events are meant to convert the tribal people of Vyara taluka.

A memorandum to this effect has also been handed over to Vyara Sub-Inspector R G Desai.

He has also been requested to take strict action in the matter.

Sunil Gamit, the spokesperson of the Christian missionary of Chikhalda, said: “Every year, we organise this event at the church in Chikhalda and more than 10,000 people from the neighbouring village participate in it. This year also, we have taken permission from the district administration for our function.”

He added: “Till now we have not carried out any conversion in the village.”

Tapi District Collector C M Balat said: “We cannot stop anybody from organising religious functions. However, if we find them carrying out conversions at the function, we will take strict legal action.”