Bangalore Christians arrested on false conversion charges

Arresting Christians on cooked up stories of "forced conversions" seems working well for Hindu fanatics these days. Three Christians in southern Karnataka became victims of similar such allegations that has plunked them in prison.

Chandrashekar, Sandhya and Kamalamma, residents of Benson town, Bangalore, were arrested by police this week on charges of "forced conversions".

According to GCIC, an advocacy group in the state, Chandrashekhar's sister invited the Christians to pray for her paralyzed son in Jeevanahalli. While returning back after prayer, some 20 Bajrang Dal activists beat them severely and had police arrest them on false charges of conversion.

The lady who invited them to pray for her sick son has however denied these charges and said, "They have done nothing wrong. I only called them to pray for my sick son. The charges by Bajrang Dal are baseless."

Christian leaders, including HT Sangliana, Member of Parliament and former Bangalore police commissioner are trying to bail them out as early as possible.

The peaceful state from recently has been witnessing Hindu aggression on Churches and missionary organisations.

Last week, Pastor Ravi Charles of Jesus Prayer Hall was attacked by a group of 30 Hindutva members who roughed him up and assaulted him alleging forced conversion. The fanatics even abused the members of the Church and had the pastor arrested by the Bavanara police station.

As brutish onslaught were carried on Christians in Orissa, the southern state of Karnataka witnessed similar incidents of prayer halls being vandalised, pastors arrested and Church institutions damaged.

Over 25 prayer halls were ravaged in the spree, as Bajrang Dal activists charged Christians in Mangalore of conversions.

The violence in the state followed weeks of Orissa violence where over 300 churches were burnt and at least 50,000 have been forced to flee their homes and move to relief camps.