On October 21, Abhiram Dhala, a local Christian convert, and four companions from Mumbai, Pastor Karl Silva, Roshan D'Souza, Ganesh Wankhede and Ramesh Thawar Chandwa, traveled to Suliapada in the Baripada district of Orissa, to address a Christian gathering and distribute Christian literature. Baripeda district is in the tribal belt of Mayurbhanj, Orissa. 
According to a November 2 release by Compass Direct, local police arrested the five Christians later that day, after a student lodged a complaint against them claiming that they had insulted him when he asked them to stop preaching near a shrine dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga. The five were charged under Sections 294, 295(a), 298, 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Charges included "uttering obscene words in a public place," "uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of others," and "issuing threats or criminal intimidation to several persons." While the sub-divisional Balipada court rejected an appeal for bail on October 22 and sentenced the five to police custody, the five were released on October 28, after a Sessions Court granted bail.
Pastor Karl Silva, one of the accused, told UCA News, "The case is fabricated. We were at least one kilometre away from the Puja Pandal [shrine] in an open square, and we were simply sharing the love of God…. When we felt a section of the people could turn violent, we went to the police station, hoping we would be protected by the police, but the police turned against us. They didn't even allow us to make a phone call. On the contrary, one of the policemen abused us."
Their lawyer, Pratap Chhinchani, contends that this complaint is a deliberate attempt to malign Christians. He told Compass Direct that the student complained that the preachers had used abusive language and threatened to kill him when he asked to refrain from preaching near the shrine. Chhinchani pointed out that the preachers did not even know the local tribal language and could not have used the obscene and abusive language that they are being accused of.
Father Dibakar Parichha, a Catholic priest in Bhubaneswar, told UCA News he believed the complaint was part of a hate campaign of Hindu extremist groups against Christians. The World Hindu Council (VHP) has been aggressively carrying out a "reconversion" drive in Orissa unhindered by local authorities. Local Christians reject the term "reconversion" as many of the tribal people were traditionally animist before turning to Christianity. However, Indian law categorizes all tribal peoples as Hindu, placing them at the lower level of the Hindu caste system.
Pray for these five men as they prepare for their trial on these false charges. Pray that local Christians will remain faithful to Christ in the face of relentless pressure by the VHP.
For more information on persecution of Christians in India, click here.
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