Another pastor attacked, arrested in Karnataka

Members of a Hindu fundamentalist group beat up and abused a pastor on Sunday evening near Bangalore city; later, the pastor was arrested on false complaint, an advocacy group reported.

A 60-year-old Pastor Prakash was attacked by 25 members of Bajrang Dal led by a man named Pratap while he was ministering in Kaiwara village in Bangalore rural district of Karnataka state.

Bangalore-based Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that Bajrang Dal - the Hindu outfit, known for their frequent attacks on Christians beat up the pastor, they used foul language and accused the pastor of cheating. After sometime, the police arrived on the information provided by the radical group, and took the pastor into custody at the nearby Chintamani police station, the advocacy group said.

According to GCIC, Pastor Prakash has been ministering for the past 10 years at the Beracah Church in Tharabanhalli in Bangalore Rural District. The church is attended by 80 believers. The pastor's entire family, consisting of his wife and two daughters, has been involved in the ministry, it stated.

Recently, the family had started ministering in Kaiwara village, Chintamani Taluk, 50 kms from Tharabanhalli. 15 believers have been meeting every Sunday evening in believer Venkataramanappa's house for prayer.

On Sunday, after Pastor Prakash ministered at the church in Tharabanhalli, he proceeded to the prayer meeting at Kaiwara village. At 7:00 p.m. after the prayer had concluded, the Bajrang Dal group attacked the pastor and the police arrested him.

The report said the Pastor was interrogated till late night by the police. And he spent the night in the jail.

On Monday morning, the inquiry continued in the village, the report said. However 25 of the villagers provided evidence in support of the pastor. They reiterated that the pastor was not conducting any illegal activities and only visited their houses for prayer on their request. The pastor is still in police custody.

GCIC said it is directly in touch with the police officials and it still trying to negotiate the release of the pastor.

The Christian advocacy group has requested Christians to pray for the release of Pastor Prakash without an FIR being lodged against him. It also reguests to pray for the safety of his family and other believers in the area.