Pastors in hiding after false media charges

Pastors in hiding after false media charges

NEW DELHI — Influenced by Hindu extremists, campaigns against Christians in Uttar Pradesh state, India, have increased, sending several pastors into hiding.

False media reports of large-scale, fraudulent conversions of Hindus by pastor Durga Prasad Yadav in Jaunpur District went viral in July. The reports were followed by false police charges.

As a result, worship meetings have been disrupted, pastors and evangelists have been arrested and Christian leaders have fled their homes to avoid arrest, sources said.

At least 12 pastors have gone into hiding since the false reports surfaced, a source unnamed for security reasons told Morningstar News.

Those detained by police said officials have ordered them to list all pastors and other church leaders in the area.

However, attendance at Yadav’s church has nearly doubled since Hindu extremists began targeting him, reports said.
India ranks 11th on Open Doors’ 2018 World Watch List of countries where persecution of Christians is highest. (MS)