On April 30 in Banglawmedu, state police cancelled a Bible study after Hindu extremists from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) disrupted the meeting, roughed up those present and ordered them to cease alleged forceful conversion. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that pastor V. Neethirajan of The Church of God Ministry was leading the three-day study. Holding their party flag aloft, the extremists shouted, “Don’t convert Hindus to Christianity,” and, “We won’t allow it,” and threatened to attack again if they continued the study, according to the GCIC. The pastor and other Christians went to a nearby police station and filed a complaint against the BJP members. Police issued a warning to the extremists, but then ordered the Christians to cancel the remainder of their Bible study meeting.
Karnataka – On April 26 in Yekahanka New Town, Bangalore, Hindu extremists stormed into a prayer meeting, beat a pastor and accused him of forceful conversion. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that the pastor, identified only as Prakash, of The Living Hope Church, was leading Christians in prayer when about 10 intolerant Hindus arrived at 7 p.m. and ordered them to stop immediately. They tore the pastor’s clothes and verbally abused him, according to GCIC. Accusing him of fraudulently and forcibly trying to convert Hindus to Christianity, they dragged him to the Yelahanka New Town police station, which was investigating, reported GCIC. At press time area Christian leaders were still intervening to resolve the matter.
Andhra Pradesh – On April 22 in Saroornagar, Hindu extremists from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh forcibly stopped a Sunday worship service, alleging that the church was illegally built and accusing the pastor of forceful conversion, according to the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). The pastor, identified only as Sreekantt, produced documentation of the registration of the church land, but the extremists continued to harass him. Local media also disseminated false information against the pastor, reported the GCIC.