HIREKERUR, India — Police in Hirekerur, Haveri district, detained a pastor Jan. 23 after Hindu extremists disrupted the prayer service at the home of Rajanna Handijogar, where nearly 45 believers had met.
The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that Suresh Yakob, pastor of the Christ’s Discipleship Prayer Fellowship, was leading the weekly worship when nearly 50 extremists from the Bajrang Dal forcibly entered the house.
Yakob said Hirekerur police arrived and took him and at least 10 other Christians into custody, including a man identified only as Handijogar, his wife Girijima and their two daughters.
The pastor said police also interrogated the Hindu extremists at the station. After nearly three hours of questioning, police reprimanded the extremists, saying the Christians had not violated any laws.
“Police told me to give a written application requesting that they provide security,” Yakob said.
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