19th September 2005: Deda Ram, a Christian preacher was arrested in Indore after Hindu extremists accused him of trespassing and suspicious movement in the Jeet Nagar area of the city.
He was taken to the Bhawankuan police station where he was confined for a couple of hours and later on arrested under section 109 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code). Section 109 of IPC is a bail able offense and states, "Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment".
The police reported that one of the residents' of Jeet Nagar had complained about his suspicious movement and did not like him frequenting the house of Bhagwanti Bai, a converted Christian from a Hindu background.
Town Inspector of Indore, Mr. Parihar said "The neighborhood complains about his whereabouts and that he does not reveal his address". He further stated that the two addresses that they have at the SDM (State District Magistrate) office are both incorrect.
Deda Ram is an evangelist from Rajasthan and is new to Indore. He had gone for prayer and tract distribution to Jeet Nagar, which is a sensitive area and his leaders do not dismiss the RSS and VHP activists' involvement in his arrest.
On the 20th evening, Deda Ram was finally granted bail but he had to spend the night in the prison as it was late in the evening for all the formalities to be through. He was supposed to be released on the 21st September morning.
Grace and Jagdish Nayak from the same area of Jeet Nagar are facing much opposition and pressure from the government authorities and Hindu extremists for the last 2 months.
