Mumbai: Philip Varte, a pastor from Vasai Talika of Thane District, Maharashtra, was arresed on October 1, 2009. The police did not cite any reason for the arrest.

It is suspected that the pastor was arrested because he was wrongly identified as the person behind some fight that took place in a neighbouring village. A few people had been injured as a result of this fight. The police have therefore, it is said, arrested him charging him with an attempt to murder.

Pastor Philip is a localite of Vasai village and serving the Lord among the Marathi speaking people. He has worship services in four different places. He is not yet released. The whole church, relatives, family members and vasai taluka pastors association is earnestly working hard and praying for his safe release at the earliest.

At first, for few days, he was in Vasai jail and then he was shifted to Thane main jail. But the pastor says God is working through him in the jail also. Thus far 16 inmates have responded to his sharing of the gospel.