Prayer meetings disrupted in Madhya Pradesh & Karnataka

Gospel Meeting Disrupted in Shahdol

Madhya Pradesh, 9th October, 2012 : Alleged Hindu extremists in Gurra, Shahdol on 28 Sept disrupted a worship service conducted in the house of Dev Singh Marco. A mob of 70 extremists accused Pastor Bhimsen Prajapati and Evangelist Kushal Singh Armo of conversion by fraudulent means and threatened them of dire consequences. Area Christian leaders informed the police about the situation. Police soon reached on the spot but no case has been registered.

Prayer Meeting Stopped in Mysore, Karnataka

Karnataka, 9th October, 2012 : In Kattemalavadi, Hunsur, Mysore, four police constables allegedly set up by the Hindu extremists Bajrang Dal stopped the prayer meeting and questioned the pastor about his license to run a church on Sept 26. The Hindu extremists suddenly appeared on the scene, verbally abused and beat up the pastor and the believers while the police were standing as mere spectators and forcibly took all the Bibles and other Christian literature.

At about 12 noon, the police took the pastor and the believers to the police station. The Sub Inspector of Police identified only as Arun questioned the believers about their faith. The believers stated that they have accepted Christ of their own accord and their lives have change for the better after following Christ.

Thereafter, the Sub Inspector released all the believers without filing any case against them and told the two parties to reach a compromise between them. The attackers ordered the pastor to take permission from the village panchayat to build a temporary shed for worship meeting within 15 days and to pay some money for the same.

Prayer Meeting Disrupted; Pastor Beaten Up in Karnataka

Karnataka, 9th October, 2012 : A mob of about 50 Hindu extremists attack a prayer meeting held for HIV+ and the blind people and accused Pastor Raju of forceful conversion on Sept 18 in Kelaginahatti, Annayakana Halli, near Arasikere, Hassan, Karnataka. At about 4 p.m. the extremists led by Byresh and local Bharatiya Janata Party President, Ventakesh barged into a prayer meeting, beat the pastor, chased the participants and destroyed dinner prepared for them.

As the extremist failed to get hold of Pastor Raju, they took one blind believer Samuel and his wife, along with three other believers –Nagaraj, Venkatappa and Raju to the Arasikere Police Station and detained throughout the entire night. The police had seized the Christians’ vehicles, cooking vessels and filed a case against pastor Raju. Karnataka Legal Aid Cell intervenes for the Christians and the police registered a counter case against the attackers on Sept 26 morning.

However, the police did not allow the Christians to conduct worship meeting at Annanayakkanahalli on Sunday Sept 30. One church member reported that Police Station in-charge, Manje Gowda warned the believers that if they conduct worship, he will arrest all of them for forcible conversion.

– efi