Eleven GFA missionaries arrested in Chattisgarh

Police this week arrested eleven Gospel for Asia missionaries in Chattisgarh's Korba district.

The missionaries who were leading a three-day Christian meeting on February 17 was attacked and arrested on the second day of the peaceful gathering.

A Hindu extremist group accused the missionaries of conversion and indulged in violence that injured several believers.

The incident has concerned GFA representatives in the state who complain that the existing anti-conversion law in the state has been misused to suit the Hindu aggression. In the past one-year, dozens of missionaries have been arrested on false charges.

KP Yohannan, President of the GFA says, "Significant numbers of anti-Christian people came and threatened them first, then they started beating up all the Christians. Instead of arresting the people that were beating up the Christians and causing such havoc, the police arrested 11 of our missionaries and took them to prison."

Yohannan denounced the anti-conversion law in the state and said, India's constitution provides for religious freedom.

"Chattisgarh is a state where they have the anti-conversion law in effect, which makes it much more difficult for ministry in that state. Believers are accused of forcing people to convert to Christianity, which has never happened. Now they have to go to court to defend themselves," he said.

The Christian leader pointed that these attacks will not hurt the church. "It is fundamentally a mistake, because through suffering and persecution often the church grows faster than during times of peace," he said.

Yohannan urged Christians to pray for those who are "opposing Christians and beating up missionaries" so their hearts might be touched by God and would become "strong witnesses for God."