"Pastor Rohit Ranjan was declared innocent of all charges" by a court in the district of Kanker in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, BosNewsLife learned from Netherlands-based Open Doors International, a major Christian rights group involved in defending the pastor.
"The case is now closed, despite pressure from Hindu extremists," Open Doors said about the September 12 ruling, which came amid mounting international pressure. The pastor initially went into hiding after being summoned in June 2005 to appear before a court. He handed himself over himself to police in February 2006.
"Nine months and thirteen days he was held in the prison facility of Kanker," added Open Doors. He was released on bail November 27 last year, but remained anxious about his future the group explained.
MANY TENSIONS
"For Rohit Ranjan, the last two years and three months were full of tensions and threats. The court case was repeatedly postponed because alleged witnesses didn’t appear. In addition members of Rohits’ church were afraid to be involved in the case," the group said.
Christian investigators said that attending court hearings was made difficult by extremists who were seen "intimidating witnesses while they made their declaration." In addition, Open Doors said, "lawyers were experiencing intimidation."
Hindu militants allegedly also "threatened and ridiculed Rohit Ranjan" during the hearings. Open Doors quoted Rohit Ranjan as saying that he was "thankful" for the support he received from around the world. "This was not possible without that help. While others left me, you remained convinced I was innocent. This is the result of prayers for an honest hearing," the pastor said in published remarks.
LAWYERS AFRAID
Because lawyers in Kanker were afraid to defend the pastor, Open Doors asked lawyers from Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh to take up the case. "Many volunteers of other states were involved in the case. Some arranged safe places" for those involved in defending the pastor, while others "pressured lawyers to ensure a fair trial."
Pastor Ranjan has said he plans to speak at special training seminars for persecuted Christians "to encourage others" with his story. Pastor Ranjan said he himself was encouraged by Christians from other countries. "The most precious gift were all those post cards I received, especially from the Netherlands. People wrote me from around the world. It was a present I will never forget for the rest of my life."
Pastor Rohit Ranjan serves already for three years in an evangelical congregation in the district Kanker in Chhattisgarh. Hindu-militants are reportedly closely monitoring his the pastors’ activities. Human rights groups and churches have expressed concerns about what they see as growing influence of Hindu militants in India, a mainly Hindu nation. (With reporting from India).
