By James Varghese
Special to ASSIST News Service
ORISSA, INDIA (ANS) -- Four pastors who have been preaching the gospel for many years in Orissa and nearby villages for many years were forcibly stopped from continuing their work.
According to a report carried on Persecution India (www.persecution.in), on Tues. Oct. 23, these pastors were distributing New Testaments and Gospel Tracts to a village in the Cuttack District.
The report said they arrived at the village around mid morning at around 10AM and began their work. They continued unhindered, the report said, until just after 2 p.m.
It was then that about 15 radical Hindus suddenly surrounded the Christians. The Hindus yelled at them and used foul language, and then forced them to go to the village temple. There the Christians were subjected to more cursing.
The plan was, Persecution India reported, for the pastors to have their hair forcibly cut and be sprinkled with cow’s urine so that they may be “sanctified.â€
Persecution India commented, “ Thanks be to our Sovereign Lord, who protected these pastors like Daniel in the den of the lion. The radicals could not organize things instantly. They had no alternative but to take them again forcibly to the police station (where they) handed them over ... with a false charge of ... forcible conversion (thus) violating (the) Orissa Freedom of Religion Act.â€
According to Persecution India, police arrested the pastors and placed them in custody saying they would subsequently forward charges to an area court. The ministers were never allowed to talk to anyone.