Four evangelists arrested in India on charges of conversion

Four evangelists were arrested in Maharashtra , an Indian state on charges of trying to convert to Christianity. The incident, which took place on August 5, was reported from Saravali Talavpada village in Dahanu taluk of Palghar district.

Clement de Beila, Mariam T Phillips, Pinky Sharma Kaur alias Paramjit and Parashuram Dharma Dingada, who came to visit a woman believer in their congregation, were surrounded by members of the local extremist Hindu organizations and surrounded their house and took them to the local police station alleging that they were trying conver this woman to Christianity.

They were accused of trying to convert this tribal sister by tempting her. The local police have registered a case against them under Sections 153, 295, 448 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, which include inciting enmity between different sects, housebreaking and other offences. It is noteworthy that this development comes after the pro-Hindut government came to power in Maharashtra State.

According to Voice of Martyrs, the main persecutors of Christians in India are well-organized Hindu terrorist groups, local governments they influence, and nationalist Hindus. Their aim is to “purify” India into a completely Hindu state. They see the evangelicals as traitors to the Hindu motherland.

Hindu organizations are trying to forcefully unite India under Hinduism despite the diversity of languages, cultures and religions in the country. While Prime Minister Modi has publicly said his government will not tolerate religious discrimination, many Indian states have passed vague policies such as laws banning Hindus from converting, and a push for a similar federal law is gaining support.

These state anti-conversion laws have long been used against pastors, church planters, and evangelists. Conversely, conversion ceremonies known as ghar wapsi or “homecoming” that bring Indians back to Hinduism (sometimes by force) have become more common. However Christian churches continue to grow in India despite government restrictions on Christianity.

This article first appeared in https://unitedchristianonline.org/