GFA missionary out of detention but not free

A Gospel for Asia missionary who was in detention for several weeks on allegations of "forced conversions" was released on Saturday, January 21. Although the release was secured, the organisation feared that the trials would continue in Madhya Pradesh.

Yashpal Bhuta Masih was arrested last month after three people from his village accused him of offering monetary assistance for converting to Christianity. This however was denied by the GFA group, which claimed he was "falsely accused".

Masih was arrested while leading a congregation of 56 Christian converts, GFA said, adding "Most of these new Christians are descendants of a tribe whose followers worship idols. Masih has a special burden for this tribe because his own father was a priest in their religion."

During trial, if the court finds Masih guilty, according to the Freedom of Religion law, he shall be fined up to Rs 1,00,000 and be imprisoned for at least four years. It is a non-bailable offence. Madhya Pradesh is one of the seven states that have passed the anti-conversion law.

Meanwhile, GFA reported of two of its other missionaries recovering from injuries after they were roughed up by an angry mob in Manipur for showing a movie on the life of Jesus.

GFA said the missionaries Randhir Malhotra and Kritanu Sarin were "forcefully instructed to leave a village in Manipur and never return."

"They had black and blue marks on their bodies. The physicians who treated them asked them to return later for further exams as the injuries they'd sustained were extensive," GFA said.