No One To Lead Christmas Prayers As J&K Pastor Leaves Valley
ICC Note
Members of All-Saints Church in Srinagar in Kashmir, India are left without a pastor after their pastor fled the area because of persecution. Pastor C M Khanna had been arrested for baptizing Muslim converts to Christianity. Please pray for the members of the church.
By M Saleem Pandit
12/09/2011 India (The Times of India)-The All-Saints church in Srinagar will observe Christmas this year without a priest as pastor C M Khanna, who was arrested on charges of conversion and later released, has left the Valley and there has been no replacement.
Khanna was released on bail on December 1 on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 and directions not to leave the state. A source close to the priest said he was depressed after his arrest and was in any case retiring from the Church of North India early next year.
Pastor Khanna was charged with converting young Muslim boys and girls by alluring them with money and the police had arrested him on November 19 for "fomenting communal trouble".
A four-member team headed by vice-chairman of National Commission for Minority (NCM) D Sangliana, National Integration Council member John Dayal and All India Christian Council secretary general Rev Richard Howell and others visited Srinagar and revealed that the Christian population in Srinagar numbers less than 400, all of whom are living in dread after their pastor was arrested. Incidentally, J&K has no laws against conversions.
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