GFA missionary arrested on 'forceful conversion' charges

A missionary with the Gospel for Asia (GFA) group in Madhya Pradesh, last week, was arrested on forceful conversion charges.

Yashal Bhuta Masih was accused of converting people and therefore violating the existing anti-conversion law in the state. Pertaining the case, he will be facing a trial in the local court.

According to police, Yashal was accused by the villagers of offering them education, money and jobs in exchange for converting to Christianity.

Church leaders meanwhile have decried the arrest and say, the anti-conversion law has been several times used to falsely implicate Christians on fabricated charges.

The "freedom of religion" law was framed to check fraudulent conversion and to require individuals to apprise and register with the local authorities to change their faith.

While prayers have been requested for Yashpal's release, GFA leaders in the state are pushing for his release.

In another incident, a Christian teacher was hospitalized with severe head injuries on Jan. 7, after being assaulted for distributing Bibles in his school.

James Victor Menezes of St Legory's School in Merlapadavu, Kerala, said four assailants supposedly from a Hindu group Srirama Sena, attacked him for distributing Bibles, which was opposed by the group earlier.

Menezes has been undergoing a treatment at Father Mullers Hospital, Kakanady.