Believers Arrested in Karnataka
November 17, 2008:
Chamarajanagar District: A believer identified as Benjamin, staff of Manonidhi Institute of Nursing, was arrested on charges of “forced” conversion on November 4.
The police arrested the believer under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for promoting enmity between different groups of religion.
He was produced before the District Magistrate and later sent to the Chamrajnagar sub-jail.
The believer was released on bail on November 8.
On another incident in 2006, the Bajrang Dal had filed a case against Benjamin, alleging that he was distributing gospel tracts in Manonidhi College to forcibly convert the students.
He was arrested and bailed out on this instance too.
Banavara, Hassan District: Hindu extremists Vishwa Hindu Parishad accused a pastor of ‘forced’ conversion, beat him up and also verbally abused Christian women on November 9.
Pastor Ravi Charles of Jesus Prayer Hall was summoned to perform the funeral service of the believer, identified as Girijama. As the pastor, his wife and other believers reached the house of the deceased, there was an argument among the family members on how the funeral was to be accorded. The relatives who preferred the Hindu rites informed the VHP extremists, reported EFI representative in Karnataka.
The extremists arrived at the scene, accused the pastor of forced conversion and started beating him up. The Christian women were also verbally abused.
The extremists called up the police and the believers were taken to the police station where they were detained for four hours.
Please pray for the Christians who are facing persecutions for their faith in Karnataka.
Rev. Dr. Richard Howell
General Secretary
Evangelical Fellowship of India
New Delhi, India
Evangelical Fellowship of India (established 1951) is a charter member of World Evangelical Alliance, an accredited NGO with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations |
