Pastor and Friend Arrested for Praying at Home, Accused of ‘Forced Conversion’

A Christian pastor and one of his guests were arrested and detained by local police in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for the crime of praying in the pastor’s own home on New Year’s Eve. 

The London-based Christian Today reports Pastor Raj Kishore and some of his friends had gathered at Kishore’s house located in Sonbarasa village on Dec. 31, when Kothibari police arrived at his residence around 11:00 p.m. The police detained Kishore and Raj Kumar, one of his friends, after a neighbor filed a complaint. 

The police alleged Kishore was conducting a forced conversion in his home. 

“The SHO told me that he booked Kishore and Kumar under the Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) 151 (‘Arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offenses’), 107 (‘breach of peace or disturb public tranquility’), 116 (‘provides for the power of the Magistrate to take immediate measures for the execution of bond..’),” Pyare Lal, a Christian leader from Uttar Pradesh, told Christian Today. 

The outlet reported the two men appeared before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate on New Year’s Day and were released. However, the case against them continues. 

***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest

The remainder of this article is available in its entirety at CBN