ANNIGERE, India — Hindu nationalist extremists attacked Christians attending teacher training Aug. 12 in Dharwad district, Karnataka, but when one of the attendees escaped and went to police, officers arrested eight pastors on baseless claims of forcible conversion and — in a blow to free speech — for allegedly speaking ill of Hindu gods.
Pastor Moses Bentic, coordinator of the Seva Bharat Mission, said more than 80 Christians — including nine pastors — were attending the mission’s teacher training, which began Aug. 12 and was supposed to continue through Aug. 14.
Thirty Hindu extremists from the Lord Ram’s Army entered the facility where the training was taking place and began beating the pastors. They repeatedly slapped and kicked the pastors, cursed Christianity using foul language and falsely accused them of forcible conversion. The Hindu nationalist extremists also manhandled young women at the training, most of whom were between the ages of 17 and 23, according to the Global Council of Indian Christians.
Pastor Joseph Christopher, who managed to escape from the hall just after midnight, rushed to the Annigere police station to seek help. He said police were “indifferent” and refused to accept a complaint.
“At about 1:30 a.m., two policemen arrived at the center and were mute spectators as the extremists collected all the copies of the Bibles and burned them,” Christopher said, adding that they also took mobile phones from the Christians.
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