Pentecostal Pastors Accused of Forced Proselytism

Friday, July 22, 2011

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

india mapBIGHAPUR, INDIA (Worthy News)-- Police arrested three pastors of the Gospel Messengers Team along with the couple who hosted them in Bighapur on false charges of forcibly converting people of other religions.

After 150 Christians met at the house of Om Prakash for weekly prayer led by pastors AB Singh, Ganga Prasad and Robert of GMT, a mob led by leaders of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party raided the meeting and charged the pastors of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.

When the police arrived, they arrested Prakkash, his wife and the three pastors, accusing them of forced conversions and other crimes.

"Law and order is deteriorating; the minority Christian community is facing the wrath of fanatical extremists," said Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council for Indian Christians. "These are symptoms of a failure."

GCIC provided legal assistance to the Prakashs and the pastors as hundreds of their supporters proclaimed their innocence at the police station; police promised their release later the same evening.