Karnataka: Pastor couple arrested for converting Hindu family to Christianity

Madikeri: A pastor couple were arrested and remanded in judicial custody in Kodagu district for their alleged involvement in converting a Hindu family in Kutta village.

The couple were arrested under IPC Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs). It is a cognisable and non-bailable offence punishable with up to three years in jail.

The couple were remanded in 14 days' judicial custody pending probe.

In a complaint, A Mutha alleged that the couple were trying to convert them to Christianity as they had got his nephew and niece-in-law converted earlier. He also alleged that his wife regularly visited a church in Tholpetty, a neighbouring village in Wayanad district in Kerala, along with his nephew.

Speaking to reporters, Kutta Bajrang Dal leader Sajan Ganapathy said as soon as they came to know of a conversion bid, they rushed to Mutha's house and handed over the pastor couple to the police. They had come ready to convert Mutha's family. They also had brought with them a list of villagers who had converted to Christianity.

Ganapathy alleged that the pastor couple had converted about 1,000 people belonging to the Yerava tribal community to which Mutha belongs. The couple was taking Yerava tribals to Tholpetty church every Tuesday and Sunday with an aim to convert them, he alleged.
The police, however, have booked the couple, invoking the existing sections of anti-conversion law, not the ordinance that Governor Thawarchand Gehlot gave the assent to.

The anti-conversion ordinance was not invoked as the police is yet to receive any directions from higher officials in this regard.

Archbishop of Bangalore Peter Machado had expressed disappointment at the Governor giving his assent to the ordinance, just a day after a church delegation met him with an appeal not to do so. (UNI)