MUDHOL, India — Police arrested a pastor Aug. 21 after Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal beat him in Mudhol, Bagalkot district. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that Pastor Sangappa Hosamani Shadrak was conducting a prayer meeting when about 20 Bajrang Dal (youth wing of the World Hindu Council) stormed the gathering and beat him and desecrated the bread and wine used for Holy Communion.
The extremists punched the pastor on his face several times — resulting in the loss of his front teeth — dragged him out to the street, tied him to a tree and called police. Officers from Lokapura, including one identified only as Inspector Choudhary, arrived and took Shadrak and other Christians to the police station for questioning.
The pastor was charged with injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class under various parts of Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code. The pastor was sent to Jamkotai jail and was released on bail the next day after area Christian leaders intervened, reported the GCIC.
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