Hopegivers president not safe in custody also

Kota, Rajasthan – Following the denial of bail to the Hopegivers president and orders to held him in judicial custody until April 10, a Rajasthan court has ordered the administration to keep Rev. Dr. Samuel Thomas in a separate cell from Hindu extremist inmates, who are allegedly plotting to assault him.

Compass Direct quoted Thomas' attorney, Mohammad Akram as saying that he pleaded in court that his client be given a cell separate from these militants who were accused of violence against Christians. "The Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Junior Division, today sent Thomas to judicial custody in a separate cell," Akram said.

On March 27, Rev. Thomas was remanded to judicial custody in the Central Jail at Kota district of Rajasthan state. EMI officials said sources had told them that members of Hindu extremists groups who were in judicial custody in connection with cases related to anti–Christian violence were plotting an attack on Thomas.

Thomas was arrested on March 16 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh (near Delhi), for what their involvement in inciting hatred by publishing perceived anti–Hindu book, Haqeekat (The Truth or Reality), which allegedly denigrates Hindu religion and deities. He was initially remanded to police custody for interrogation for five days.

Before being denied for his bail by the Judge on March 27, on March 20, his remand was extended by three more days, followed by another extension for three days on March 24.

EMI officials were also told by the same sources that Hindu extremists were hatching a conspiracy to falsely implicate Thomas for illegal trade in drugs. The sources said the fresh cases could be slapped against Thomas if he were granted bail by the court.

The Rajasthan High Court had earlier denied bail to EMI administrator V.S. Thomas and EMI Bible College student Vikram Kindo on March 20. They were also arrested in connection with the controversial book, Haqeekat. The court, however, granted bail to R.S. Nair, EMI's chief operating officer, a Hindu.

Dr. Samuel Thomas and his 71–year old father had been in hiding to avoid assassinations and arrest. Both men are wanted by militants and government officials. Father and son have denied the accusations saying HI had not published that book. Hindu extremists on March 3 had offered a reward of $26,000 each for the heads of Thomas and his father, Archbishop M.A. Thomas, founder of EMI.

The book, written by M.G. Mathews and reportedly an analytical study on the "Bunch of Thoughts" written by RSS idealogue M.S. Golwalkar, was sold in Rajasthan but was stopped following widespread protests.