Karnataka: Protestant clergyman risks jail, attack against him seventh case in 2012
Mundargi (AsiaNews) - Rev Mallikarjun Sangalada could go to jail on false charges of forced conversions. The accusations levelled against him are the seventh case of anti-Christian action since January in the Indian state of Karnataka.
Two days ago, people from the Hindu ultranationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked the pastor and four members of his congregation. They were coming back from a prayer meeting in Dhoni (Gadag District) and were handing out flyers.
After beating and insulting them, the RSS activists dragged the five Christians to the Mundargi police station, where they filed a complaint against them for forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.
The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) intervened quickly, gaining the release of three of the five people involved in the evening of the incident, Wednesday.
Meanwhile, police formally charged Rev Sangalada under Sections 107 ("abetment" and "conspiracy") and 157 ("Harbouring persons hired for an unlawful assembly") of the Indian Penal Code. But during the night, GCIC lawyers managed to get the clergyman and the other parishioner released.
However yesterday, the pastor went before the chief administrative officer (tehsildar) in Mundargy Sub-district (taluk) who will rule in the matter. If he goes against the clergyman, the latter could go to jail.
Speaking about the incident, GCIC president Sajan George lamented the fact that "Christians are the target of a violent propaganda campaign orchestrated by Hindu nationalists. Thanks to the Somasekhar report*, they feel encouraged to do whatever they want. We pray for Rev Sangalada's life."
Rev Sangalada, 37, has been in charge of the Sukrantham Samaja Seva Sangha Pentecostal Church in Mundargi for the past two years. He ministers to a congregation of some 35 people.
He and his wife Manjula, 33, have two daughters (1 and 5 years old respectively) and a seven-year-old son.
*On 28 January 2011, a report by the Justice Commission, chaired by formed judge BK Somasekhar, found that the Bajrang Dal and its coordinator Mahendra Kumar were not responsible for attacks against Christian churches and places of worship in Karnataka in 2008.
.png)
