Christians Charged Under Anti-Conversion Laws Released on Bail

21 July 2004

Pastor Subas Samal and his associate, Dhaneshwar Kandi, from Kilipal village in Orissa, India were released on bail on July 14 after spending more than six weeks in jail on charges under the state's anti-conversion legislation(for more information on the arrests, click here). The five women charged along with them are still in prison until bail can be posted for them.

In a July 16 report from Compass Direct, Pastor Samal denies ever using money or other means to induce people to convert. The two men intend to return to Kilipal and attempt to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict going on in the village. Their arrest stems originally from an incident in February when Hindu villagers shaved the heads of Samal and six women as a sign of their "re-conversion" to Hinduism. After six villagers were arrested in connection with the incident, charges were brought against Samal, Kandi and the women in retaliation.

Pray for Samal and Kandi, as they attempt to bring peace to their village. Pray that the women still in prison will be released on bail. Pray that all charges will be dropped and that the anti-conversion legislation will be repealed in Orissa.

In another positive development, a Dutch missionary who has served in Kashmir since 1963 and had been ordered to leave the country (click here for details) will be allowed to remain. Father Jim Borst's visa was not renewed in April, following accusations that the Catholic schools he was running were being used to as methods of converting the area's Muslims. After further investigation, the charges were not substantiated and Borst will be allowed to continue his ministry in India.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, click here.

India

India Information

Current Ministry Projects
VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”

Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defense, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry, Medical Fund
Country Information
Population
1,399,179,585 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)

Religion (%)
Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

Leader
President Droupadi Murmu (2022)

Government type
Federal parliamentary republic

Legal system
Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for India
Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.

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