Two more episodes of anti-Christian violence based on false accusations of conversion
On the same Sunday, a Pentecostal clergyman was arrested in Madhya Pradesh and another beaten up in a police station in Chhattisgarh. For the Global Council of Indian Christians, a “fundamental human right such as freedom of religion continue to be denied in a secular country like India”.
Bhopal (AsiaNews) – Yesterday saw more violence against India’s Christian communities.
A Pentecostal minister member of an independent Indian Church was arrested in the State of Madhya Pradesh while he was leading the Sunday service in his community.
The new episode of anti-Christian intolerance involved Rev Amar Singh, in Satna, a district in the city of Amarpatan.
“He was leading the prayer with about 30 members of his church,” said Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), speaking to AsiaNews.
“Without any provocation, a group of right-wing extremists stormed in, interrupting the prayer, made false accusations of conversion, frightening the faithful. Then they took Rev Singh to the police station.”
“We are alarmed by the surge in arrests in Madhya Pradesh on the basis of the new version of the anti-conversion law,” George said.
“Rev Singh has not been involved in any conversion activity,” he explained. “People are simply drawn by listening to the Word of God. Why does a fundamental human right such as freedom of religion continue to be denied in a secular country like India?”
In a separate incident, another clergyman was beaten yesterday at a police station in the State of Chhattisgarh.
The assault took place in Raipur district when a mob of Hindu extremists accused the leader of the Christian community of fraudulently obtaining conversions.
A similar episode occurred last week in the district of Kabirdham, also in the state of Chhattisgarh.
.png)
20/11/2017 14:25
15/09/2021 17:04
