Photo via state.gov

Indian Christians arrested on ‘false charges' of 'forceful conversion’

An Indian pastor along with an evangelist were arrested by Karnataka state after a group of Hindu radicals had complained to the local police about “forceful conversion activities,” reports James Varghese, special correspondent in India for ASSIST News Service.

The arrests took place in Gowdigere village, Dharwad district, Karnataka State, India on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

According to a news released on the website of the Global Council of Indian Christians (www.persecution.in), a group of Hindu radicals barged into the house of a female believer where Pastor Ganesh (28) and evangelist Chandrakanth (18) had gone for a visit and prayer at her request.

The website said that that at around 9.00 a.m, as the prayers were over, around 30 Hindu radicals along with few local village residents barged into the house of the believer and alleged that the pastor and the evangelist were involved in “forceful conversion activity.”

The news source also reported that the Hindu radicals then questioned both of them of how much they are paying a person if he/she gets converted to Christianity.

The website then said that the Hindu radicals took Pastor Ganesh and the young evangelist to the village temple and detained them and they are now being detained by the police.

In the meantime, the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) was informed about the incident and they contacted the nearest police station and requested it to look into this matter and for provide necessary help for the safety of the pair. It was known from the News source that, the police are planning to file a complaint against the pastor and evangelist.

The GCIC is in touch with senior police officials and a lawyer has been arranged to get both of them released on bail.

Pastor Ganesh and evangelist Chandrakanth both come from a Hindu background and accepted Jesus some 10 years back. The pair has been sharing the gospel in various parts of Karnataka.

Six months ago, they started a church under the organization, Friends Missionary Prayer Band (FMPB). About 40 believers are gathering for the worship service.

GCIC has requested for prayer for the protection and speedy release of these ministers.

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TAGS: India evangelist ‘false charges' 'forceful conversion’ persecution Hindu radicals Christianity

[10/12/2009]

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