Raipur, Feb. 2: A group of hooligans today raided a hall in the Chhattisgarh capital where a meeting was going on before dragging out two Americans and beating them up for their alleged bid to propagate Christianity and religious conversion.

Police sources said a meeting was under way at Singh Palace in the Lodhipara area when more than 15 youths armed with sticks and rods arrived there. Harish Patel, who runs an NGO working for the uplift of the poor and organiser of the event, said four American citizens were present in the meeting.

The mob entered the hall around 4 pm and dragged out the Americans. Of the four, two managed to escape but the others could not. Sources said the rampaging youths beat them up and looted valuables.

After ransacking the hall, the youths — who were shouting anti-conversion slogans — fled the place before police could arrive. The Americans and some other people visited Pandri police station to lodge a complaint. A case of rioting and loot was registered against unknown persons on the complaint of Nandini Rai, an employee at the hall.

Senior superintendent of police B.S. Maravi confirmed the incident but told The Telegraph that he did not have all the details as “other officials were investigating the case”.

K.B. Khatri, an officer at Pandri police station, said the victims were identified as Adam Culley and Jack of New York. The other two were Olson and his wife Judy.

Khatri said the victims did not sustain any external injuries and left for Delhi by an evening flight. A search has been launched to find the culprits, the officer added.

Apart from a laptop, the youths looted a camera and other valuables as well as Rs 5,000 in cash, said Khatri.