Christians arrested in Bangalore on conversion charges

(November 15, 2008)
Three Christians were arrested in Bangalore, South India, on the charges of “inducing” slum dwellers to convert. They are put in Jail under judicial custody, according to All India Christian Council. Christian leaders are trying to bail them out as early as possible. Christian leaders in Karnataka told the Catholic Council that Mr. Chandrashekhar along with two ladies, Kamlamma and Sandhya, was invited by Chandrasekhar’s sister to pray for her paralyzed son in Jeevanahalli, Bangalore on November 12 night. While coming out after prayer, some 10-15 Bajrang Dal activists took hold of Chandrashekhar and beaten him severely. Later Bajrang Dal activists called police and gave false charges of conversion against Chandrashekhar and two companions. They were arrested at Fraser Town Police in same night after the slum dwellers’ employer, named Mr. Gowda, alleged they were inducing people to covert to Christianity. H.T. Sangliana, former Bangalore Commissioner of Police and presently a Member of Parliament, contacted the concerned police officers and urged them to conduct a proper investigation. Speaking to Chandrashekhar’s sister who invited her brother and two ladies to pray for her sick son denies the charges: “I called them to come to my home to pray for my sick son. They have not done anything wrong. The charges given by Bajrang Dal are baseless.” Sam Paul, AICC National Secretary of Public Affairs, said the incident was “one of many examples of Christians who are falsely accused of forcible conversion by Hindutva forces.