JHAPA: An American national was arrested for preaching Christianity to locals with an intention to force them into changing their religion, from Baniyani of Jhapa on Tuesday.

The suspect has been identified as 70-year-old Fomess Dolan, informed the Jhapa District Police Office. He was arrested from a local church,  Hosma Academy. police added.

According to police, he had entered Nepal without a visa via India.

He was posing himself as a doctor in front of the locals, who had come to their rescue, stated DSP Hari Prasad Sharma of the DPO.

He asked the women, who came to him seeking treatment, to wash off sindur (vermilion powder) from their foreheads and discard potes (traditional glass beads worn by married Hindu women) in the name of Jesus.

The locals then reported him to police for trying to make them change their religion.

Dolan, in his statement, has said that it is his second visit to Nepal.