Wed Jan 17, 2007

Police joins the radical Hindus to persecute Christian believers in Kushalnagar, Kodagu district, Karnataka

January 3rd 2007 Pastor J.P.George of "Village Mision India Church" and believers namely Chinnaya and Mahindra were attending a prayer meeting at the residence of Raithamma and Shivarma in the village called "Siege Hosur" about 13 kms from kushalnagar, Coorg district in Karnataka. While they were praying a group of people belongs to radical Hindu organization such as Bajarangadal and B.J.P gathered around their house and started intimidating the pastor and the believers accusing them of forceful conversion. The people called the police and that the pastors forcefully converting Hindus to Chrstianity. The police arrived at the spot and forced them to discontinue the prayer, and was taken into police custody. They were interrogated from about 11:30 to 8 P.M. and were released with a warning that they should not continue their religious activities.

Pastor J.P.George has been in the ministry since 2003 and has about 30 believers in his church. Subsequently on January 7th Sunday morning around 9:30 p.m. the Sub Inspector of police Mr Shiva Reddy of Kushal Nagar police station barged into the church premises of Pastor. D.Titus. He is the pastor of "Bethel Ministries" which was started in 1994, and as of now has around 100 members. The inspector ordered Pastor Titus to stop the worship and come to the police station. The inspector then reached Shanty Bhavan, a church pastored by Pastor K.J.Mathai. Pastor Mathai has started the ministry during 1996 and presently has around 60 members. The inspector ordered pastor Mathai to stop the Sunday worship and follow him to the police station. One of the believers Mr. Varghese asked the police inspector the reason for being called to the police station, the later got very irritated with this question and slapped him on his face Mr. Varghese repeatedly asked the same question, the inspector got violent and verbally and physically abused him by giving him a hard blow on his chest.

The forcibly took them to the kushalnagar police station at 10;30 a.m. In the mean time pastor Titus informed Pastor George of village mission to the police station for help, by about 10;30 all the pastors namely pastor George, Titus ,Bro Varghese and Mathai were at the Kushal Nagar police station, leaders belonging to the B.J.P,
B.S.P, R.S.S. etc were also present the leaders were namely H.G. Damodhar (local leader) Shivakumar of B.S.P. K.A. Raju, H.G. Krishnappa ,S.R.Manjunath and K.J. Manu Madhusudhan. They accused the pastors of forceful convention and intimidated them in front of the police sub inspector. The police officer did not allow the pastors to express their view. One of the believers Brother Chennaya tried to explain the freedom to choose their religion for themselves; he was beaten by one Shivkumar in front of the police inspector Mr. Shiva Reddy. Instead of helping this helpless person, the inspector Mr. Shiv Reddy, also beat him. The believer was then beaten by another policeman in the station. The police detained all the believers till 2 P.M. They were let of after forcing them to sign and undertaking saying that they will not conduct prayer meetings and worship
services in their house or any other house.

Please pray for that these Pastors are allowed to worship without hindrance and also pray for the safety and security of the pastors and believers

Police Station: Kushalnagar, Coorg.
Police Inspectors name: Mr. Shiva Reddy
Contact No: 09880994774
Police Station Contact No: 08276 - 274333