Pentecostal pastor arrested, sent to jail in Karnataka

In yet another incident, a Pentecostal pastor in Karnataka was arrested on false conversion charges, on Sunday, September 26.

Pastor Shivanda Siddi, 45, was arrested on false charges of conversion while conducting worship service at Gnanodaya AG Church, reported the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).

According to the advocacy group, about 5 people belonging to a Hindu extremist organisation disrupted the service and started physically attacking the pastor.

"The radicals humiliated the pastor by tearing his clothes and beating him in front of the faithful. After beating the pastor for about half an hour, they called the police at Yellapur station," GCIC said.

The pastor as well as seven women including two girls aged 10 and 11 were reportedly arrested by the police.

GCIC informed that the pastor was "beaten up again by the radicals in front of the police officials."

After the intervention of GCIC, police released the women. However, the pastor was charged under Section 295 of the Penal Code and was subsequently sent to Sirsi jail in Uttar Kannada.

Pastor Siddi has been ministering among tribals in Umachagi Village, Mundgod taluk, for the last five years.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), in its half yearly report on major incidents of anti-Christian violence in 2010, recorded 106 incidents of persecution out of which 37 cases came from Karnataka.