tense state of Madhya Pradesh in an apparent attempt by authorities to him to give evidence that his pastor forcibly converted him.
Christian news agency Compass Direct News said police detained Ramesh Thakur, 37, in Mayapuri, Madhya Pradesh, on charges of "insulting religious beliefs" with his next hearing set for Monday, October 30.
The move came shortly after he was first detained Tuesday, October 24, before being released briefly Wednesday, October 25. In a statement R.R. Malvi, police in-charge of the Dewas Gate police station, was quoted as saying that Thakur would continue to be detained while investigations are underway. Christians allege he is under political pressure to prosecute the Christian and his church.
Earlier this year, Thakur as detained along with his pastor and others on June 4, and eventually released the same day on bail after four hours of interrogation without being charged, news reports said. The Bethel Fellowship Church holds Sunday worship meetings at the home of Thakur.
POLICE RAID
"On Tuesday the police barged into Ramesh Thakur’s house and ordered him to produce all house documents," Pastor Bharti of the Bethel Fellowship Church told Compass Direct News. "However, since he did not have any papers on hand, they took him to the police station, where he was threatened with dire consequences if he were shielding me."
The pastor claimed that police officials inquired, "in an intimidating manner", whether Thakur was given the house "as an allurement to become Christian." Thakur reportedly became a born-again Christian, accepting Christ as his personal "Lord and Savior, six months ago.
Bharti said that since their arrest on June 4, the Hindu hard-line Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) party and its youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, subjected them to insults, abusive language and threats.
HIGH FINE
In a statement the Global Council of Indian Christians said that the RSS had offered Thakur 25,000 rupees (US$552) to implicate Pastor Bharti in a charge of "allurement" to convert. There was no immediate reaction from the RSS.
It comes amid growing concern about reports of persecution of Christians in several areas of India. Bharti and 15 other Christians had already been arrested on June 4 after a mob of Hindu extremists stormed their home prayer meeting in Mayapuri and dragged them to a nearby temple to force them to bow before local gods.
Pastor Bharti was charged with insulting religious beliefs "with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging" religious feelings. (With reports from India).
