Pastor freed after two years of false rape charges

A Christian leader in the country who was falsely accused for more than two years and imprisoned for months on charges of rape and forced abortion was cleared by an Indian court last week.

According to BosNewsLife, the pastor Rohit Ranjan was declared innocent of all charges by a court in the district of Kanker in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

Open Doors International, a Netherlands based major Christian rights group was involved in defending and freeing the pastor.

Open Doors said, the pastor was freed amid strong pressure from Hindu extremists who even threatened the lawyers and Christians involved. "Nine months and thirteen days he was held in the prison facility of Kanker."

Open Doors quoted Rohit Ranjan as saying, he was thankful for the support from all around the world. "This was not possible without that help. While others left me, you remained convinced I was innocent. This is the result of prayers for an honest hearing. People wrote me from around the world. It was a present I will never forget for the rest of my life," the pastor said.

Open Doors said the pastor is now preparing to speak at special training seminars for persecuted Christians to encourage others with his story.

Churches and Human rights groups have expressed concerns over the persecution and suppression of Christians in the country due to the growing influence of Hindu militants in India.