Five Christians Charged with ‘Wounding Religious Feelings’

(Compass) – An Indian court recently charged five Christians with the crime of “wounding the religious feelings” of Hindus, after a complaint was lodged in the tribal belt of Orissa. The Christians were released on bail on October 28. Lawyer Pratap Chhinchani, who will defend the five in court, said he believed a Hindu extremist group was behind the complaint and that the charges were false. Meanwhile, the World Hindu Council (VHP) continued its “reconversion” drive in Orissa unhindered by local authorities. Christians reject the term “reconversion to Hinduism,” since most tribal converts were animists before they turned to Christianity. However, Indian law regards tribal peoples as Hindu in origin.