Lucknow (AsiaNews) - A pastor originally from Kerala has been taken into custody by security forces in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on charges of illegal religious conversion, following a complaint filed by members of the Bajrang Dal, the Hindu nationalist movement.
Police said the pastor, Jose Thomas, 47, originally from Thiruvananthapuram and currently residing in Patna, Bihar, had travelled to the Ballia district, where he was allegedly speaking to a group of women and children when he was stopped. Authorities claimed he was engaged in religious activities related to conversion through incentives, including promises of employment and financial support.
During the operation, police claim to have seized religious books, along with musical instruments and microphones, in his possession. A complaint has been filed under provisions relating to alleged illegal religious conversions, and investigators have stated that they will examine his bank accounts to trace possible sources of funding.
The arrest comes amid numerous similar cases involving members of the Christian clergy in different parts of the country. In a recent incident, police in Ghatampur, near Kanpur, detained Pastor Albin of Vattapara, Thiruvananthapuram, following a complaint filed by local Bajrang Dal officials. His family members were briefly detained and later released, while he was granted bail about a week later.
In another case in Maharashtra, police arrested Reverend Sudheer of the CSI Church Nagpur Mission, along with his wife, relatives and friends, during a Christmas prayer meeting in a village in Nagpur district, following complaints from Bajrang Dal activists alleging conversion-related activities. A local court subsequently granted bail to Sudheer, his wife and the other people arrested in the case.
These recent arrests have brought renewed attention to the enforcement of anti-conversion laws in several states. Human rights activist Dinanath Jaiswar, of ADF India (Alliance Defending Freedom India), told AsiaNews: "Currently, 75 Christians, including pastors, are in prison in Uttar Pradesh on false charges of conversion. Attacks by vigilante groups have increased and spread, instilling fear in communities across the state."
"For groups of Hindu extremists,‘ Jaiswar continues, ’it has become customary to break into Christians' homes and accuse them of proselytising among Hindus to convert them to Christianity. When Christians deny the accusations and try to prevent their prayers from being interrupted, police force is used to take them into custody."
