ICC Note:
Despite Modi’s statements that, “We cannot accept violence against any religion on any pretext and I strongly condemn such violence. My government will act strongly in this regard,” persecution of Christians and other religious minorities has not diminished in the slightest. In fact, it has only increased in India. Take for instance this incident of a mob attack of a Pentecostal pastor.
By Carey Lodge
3/9/2015 India (Christian Post)-A Pentecostal pastor in India had to be rescued by police after being surrounded by right-wing activists who had accused him of converting local people.
Pastor Lal Singh and another man known only as Idaram were bought to a police station in Barwani district following complaints by a local right-wing group. Activists had protested outside Idaram’s house, where a prayer meeting was taking place, shouting anti-Christian slogans.
After the pastor and his colleague were taken to the police station, the protestors surrounded the building, forcing the authorities to detain the two men for longer.
“The [activists] were agitated and would have harmed the pastor had I released him,” Head Constable Rameshwar Pande told The Indian Express.
The officer in charge of Rajpur Police Station, Asharam Varma, told the newspaper that the accusations of conversion were found to be false, and the men were not charged.
Five states in India currently have anti-conversion laws which state that those who wish to convert to another religion must first gain official permission. Religious leaders are also required by law to report conversions or risk a three-year jail sentence themselves.
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