Assam: a Baptist the first arrested for the law against ‘magic healings’

38-year-old Pranjal Bhuyan had simply prayed for some of his villagers. Introduced by the local government of the BJP nationalists to ‘protect health’ it is in fact a new tool to target Christians. The man hit by the measure had already come under fire on charges of ‘conversions’ for some free lessons he offered at home to children.

Delhi (AsiaNews) - Police in the Indian state of Assam have arrested a Baptist church leader on charges of violating a new law aimed at limiting ‘magical healings’. The arrest came after he had simply prayed for the inhabitants of a village in the north-eastern Indian state.

Thirty-eight-year-old Pranjal Bhuyan, who is a member of the historic Golaghat Baptist Church in Dergaon, a town in Golaghat district, was arrested on 22 November and became the first member of the Christian community in the state to be sent to prison under the recently introduced Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Act.

This law, introduced in February by the Hindu nationalist BJP government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, brands as ‘evil’ ‘the commission of any practice of healing and magical healing, by any person, with a sinister motive to exploit the common people’. Anyone who commits them can be punished, on conviction, with imprisonment of up to one year, which can extend to three years in the case of a repeat offence, or with a fine of 50,000 rupees.

Pranjal Bhuyan, a resident of Padmapur village, is alleged to have attempted through these ‘magical healing practices’ to ‘convert’ Hindus in the area. Brought before the magistrate for a hearing, he was placed in judicial custody for 14 days. Bhuyan was released after posting bail, but the serious charges against him will have to be challenged in court.

The law passed by Assam had been presented by Hindu nationalists as an instrument to bring about ‘an awakening in society and create sound and scientific knowledge to protect health’. In fact, it is nothing more than yet another tool to target Christians.

According to Baptist Church pastor Amit Sangma, Bhuyan offered lessons to children in his home in Padmur. A few months ago, a meeting was held in the village where it was decided that no one would send their children to study with him any more for fear that he might also teach the Bible. Now came even the unlikely accusation of ‘magical healing’.