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Hindu radicals accuse pastor of forced conversions

A group of Hindu radicals stormed into a pastor’s house and had him arrested on a charge of forcible conversion, reports James Varghese, special correspondent in India for ASSIST News Service.

The incident occurred on March 15 at Mangalore in Karnataka State, India.

According to a report on the website of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), the incident took place at around 7.00 pm, as Pastor Valsalan, 55, and his family were having dinner at a believer’s house.

GCIC said a source told the organization that a group of 15-20 members belonging to the Hindu radical group Bajrang Dal (Monkey Brigade) as well as another group, stormed the house. They began accusing those inside of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.

According to GCIC, the radicals then locked the pastor and his family, as well as the believer, inside the house until 10.00 pm. Apparently, the radicals then went to an area police station, told the authorities that the pastor was forcibly converting people, and brought the police with them to the believer’s house.

GCIC reported that after the police arrived at the house, they took the pastor and his family along with the believer to the police station for additional inquiries. At about 11.30 pm, the pastor’s wife, his two children and the believer were released from the police station.

According to GCIC, the pastor is currently incarcerated in a city jail.

Valsalan has pastored the Bethesda Assemblies of God Church for 15 years. There are about 100 members in his church.

He is married to Asha, 43, and they have two children, Anish, 18, and Anitha, 15.

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TAGS: India Hindu radicals forced conversions persecution anti-Christian violence

[03/20/2010]

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