Rajasthan Police books Kerala-based pastor alleging forced conversions
text_fields
Idukki: A case has been registered against a Kerala-based pastor in Rajasthan for alleged forced conversion. Rajasthan Police have registered a case against Thomas George, a native of Kattappana, Idukki, under non-bailable sections of promoting religious enmity, insulting religious beliefs and spreading hatred. The pastor, who has been working in Rajasthan’s Dausa for 22 years, received information about the case on July 15. The pastor is currently in Kerala, where the hearing on the case against him has been postponed to August 4.
Thomas George says that the case was filed against him on the complaint of Hindutva organisations, including Bajrang Dal and Hanuman Sena. He told the media that his church in Dausa was attacked by Hindutva organisations twice and has CCTV footage of the attackers shouting slogans inside the church.
On June 29, the attackers entered the church and shouted slogans like Jai Shri Ram. The group arrived with a bulldozer to demolish the church. The police arrived at the scene immediately, preventing any untoward incident. On July 6, a group of about 500 attackers, including bulldozers, again arrived at the church and created a ruckus. It was the police who stopped the mob again. On the following two Sundays, prayers were held at the church under police protection.
The pastor says that there has never been any protest against churchgoers before, but now they are all living in fear.
Meanwhile, the NIA court today granted bail to the Malayali nuns after nine days in jail in Chhattisgarh. The prosecution had strongly opposed the granting of bail during the arguments held in the Bilaspur NIA court and the lower courts. The nuns were granted bail in their third bail application.
Sister Preethi Mary of Angamaly Elavoor parish and Sister Vandana Francis of Kannur Thalassery Udayagiri parish, members of the Green Garden Sisters (ASMI) Sanyasi congregation, were arrested by the Chhattisgarh police on charges of trafficking girls for religious conversion. The Chhattisgarh police arrested them from Durg railway station while they were going to Agra with four girls, including a tribal girl. The girls were going to work at a hospital run by nuns with the consent of their parents.
