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August 14, 2009: Karnataka police on August 11
arrested nine Christians on charges of
“forceful”conversion in Dharwad.
EFI correspondent Rev. Noel Kotian reported that the
Hindu extremists Ram Sena attacked After School Club
Leaders Training Program (ASCLTP) team members, beat
them up and took Bibles, mobile phones and literature
from them. The ASCLTP was attended by about 75
Christians from various district of northern Karnataka.
At about 11:30 p.m. the extremists broke into Patil
Sabha Bhavan while the group was asleep and started
assaulting them for about an hour. A police complaint
was made by the Christians at the Annigere police
station but when the police reached the spot , they
started siding with the extremists, said the report.
The police arrested three co-ordinators and six partners
of ASCLTP under Sections 143, 147, 295 (A), 120 (B) and
149 of the Indian Penal Code for punishment, punishment
for rioting, deliberate act to outrage religious
feelings of any class, punishment of criminal conspiracy
and every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence
committed in prosecution of common object respectively.
The next morning, the extremists further assaulted
another co-ordinator identified as Krishna Paul as he
arrived at the training centre and ransacked him, vice
president of Dharwad district pastors fellowship, who
went to rescue the Christians was also badly beaten up.
The extremists also locked up some Christians in a room
for an enquiry, according to reports.
Local TV channels and newspapers have covered the
incident. Area Christian leaders are taking the
necessary action to get the Christians out on bail.
Names of Christians arrested: Vasanth, (State Ministry
Coordinator) and Simon Rathnappa (District coordinator).
The partners arrested are: Jairaj, Basava Raj, Madan
Kumar, Prakash, Kumara Swamy, and Vijay Malekar.
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