Barwani, Madhya Pradesh: 28/06/2008: 10 PM
Madhya Pradesh police accompanied by a crowd of Hindutva zealots disrupted a peaceful prayer assembly today around 10 PM at Barwani and arrested the Pastor and detained the congregation at the police station.
Pastor Hate Singh Rawat who has earlier also been targeted by the Hindutva Fundamentalists of the area, was leading a peaceful prayer meeting at his own home when the local police accompanied by a huge mob of Hindutva activists barged into his home and carried him off forcefully to the police station. The congregation which numbered around 200 was made to follow him as well.
Reports are still coming in and the last that we heard from the police was that they are investigating and that there is too much commotion in the police station premises. Mr. V K Sisodiya, the police inspector of Barwani Police Station first refused to come on the phone and after many attempts to contact him when he did respond, his reply was a curt, "we are investigating!"
According to local pastors who do not wish to be named, the situation is getting out of hand. The believers, numbering almost 200 have been made to sit in front of the police station, while the Hindutva mob is increasing as they are calling local people to "gherao" the police station. The pastors said that in all probability the Christian leaders will be charged with false cases because the pressure on the police is increasing.
We solicit your prayers for them.
You can also call the Barwani police station at +91-7290-222044. You can send emails to the Superintendent of Police, Barwani, Mr. P K Mathur at sp_badwani@mppolice.gov.in and call him up at +91-7290-222561.
