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EFI NEWS

8 Christians Arrested in Andhra Pradesh
Pastor, Believer beaten up in Chhattisgarh
8 Christians Arrested in Chhattisgarh
An Appeal to the Authorities

October 5, 2011:

8 Christians Arrested in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh police charged eight Christians with "promoting enmity"
under Section 153 (A) of the Indian Penal Court after alleged Hindu
extremist Adepu Venugopal filed a complaint against them of forceful
conversion on Sept. 23 in Karimnagar district.

According to our correspondent, the Christians of Brethren Church in
Kerala came to proclaim the gospel of Christ in some villages after
obtaining permission from the Karimnagar superintendent of police.
While they were preaching in Donoor and Dharmapuri villages, the Hindu
extremist mob suddenly surrounded them and then filed the complaint of
forceful conversion.

The extremists took the Christians to the police station, and the
Christians were charged with "promoting enmity between different
groups on grounds of religion." The Christians were sent to jail; area
Christian leaders were taking steps to obtain bail for them.

Pastor, Believer beaten up in Chhattisgarh

On Sept. 18 in Khandari Kona, Shankargarh, Surguya, alleged Hindu
extremists led by Ambuj Yadav attacked Pastor Vishwanath Tirkey and
another church member as they were returning home from a prayer
meeting.

Our correspondent Rev. Akhilesh Edgar reported that at about 6 p.m.
the Hindu extremists stopped and suddenly attacked the two Christians,
asking them why they dared come back after the extremists had beaten
them and ordered them not to visit the area again.

The extremists called police, but the police released the Christians
without charges after questioning.

The police summoned Pastor Tirkey and 20 church members, however, for
questioning the next day. "The police in charge told us not to conduct
worship meetings during daytime, and to stop going around converting
people," Pastor Tirkey told EFI. No police report, however, was filed
by either party.

8 Christians Arrested in Chhattisgarh

On Aug. 27 in Jashpur, police arrested eight Christians after alleged
Hindu extremists filed a police complaint against them of forceful
conversion.

Our correspondent Rev. Akhilesh Edgar reported that Nevanti Bhagat, a
widow, invited Pastor Jaikant Badiak from Jhardkhand and other local
pastors and Christians to her house for supper and a prayer meeting.

At about 9 p.m., when the Christians were about to leave, the
extremists suddenly stormed the house, along with media
representatives, and forcibly took Pastor Badiak and seven Christians
to the police station.

The police registered a case against the Christians based on the
extremists' complaint for criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity
between different groups on grounds of religion and forcible
conversion. Of the Christians, six men went to Jashpur jail, and two
women to Raigarh jail.

The men were released on bail on Aug. 30, and the two women the next
day. Two local dailies published stories on the incident.


An Appeal to write to Authorities

As concerned people, kindly write to the Chief Ministers of
Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh appealing to them to safe guard the
rights of the minority communities and to give protection to churches
against attacks and to take immediate action against the perpetrators
of violence.

Dr. Raman Singh
Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh
Chief Minister Niwas, Raipur
Email: cm@cg.nic.in

(O) Tel: (0771) 2221000 ; 2221001 ; 2331001
(O) Fax: (0771) 2221306
(R) Tel: (0771) 2331000


Shri Kiran Kumar Reddy
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
'C' Block, 6th Floor, AP Secretariat
Email: cmap@ap.nic.in
(O) Tel: (040) 23456698 ; 23455205
(O) Fax: (040) 23452498 ; 23454828
(R) Tel: (040) 27763048


Issued By:
Rev. Dr. Richard Howell,
General Secretary
Evangelical Fellowship of India
New Delhi, India

Evangelical Fellowship of India (established 1951) is a charter member
of World Evangelical Alliance, an accredited NGO with the Economic and
Social Council of the United Nations