Two Bangalore pastors harassed

On July 8, 2007, two pastors, Mohan and Fernandez, were falsely accused of causing communal tensions and then arrested. While they were sharing the Gospel on Sunday afternoon at 6th crossroads of Wilson Garden in Bangalore, a group of people from Ramasaynar Karnataka surrounded them. The attackers forced the two men to go to the police station.

At the police station the attackers complained that the two pastors had torn a picture of the Hindu god Ganesha. Police then arrested the pastors under sections 153A, 295A, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. These codes talk about "promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion" and more.

According to newspaper reports, some people protested against the incident and temporarily blocked the roads. The pastors were released on bail. A court hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2007. An aicc leader visited the pastors and is monitoring the case.