Kerala pastor arrested in Uttar Pradesh under anti-conversion law
A Kerala pastor has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh on charges of alleged religious conversion following a complaint filed by members of the Bajrang Dal, police officials said.
Bajrang Dal is a Hindutva organisation that is infamous for its hate campaigns and hate crimes against religious minorities in India, particularly Muslims and Christians.
According to the police, Pastor Jose Thomas, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, Jose Thomas, who is currently residing in Patna, Bihar, had travelled to Ballia district, where he was reportedly addressing a gathering of more than 20 women and children when he was taken into custody.
Authorities claimed that he had arrived in the area for religious activities allegedly linked to conversion through inducements, including promises of employment and financial assistance.
Police said that during the operation, officials seized 124 religious books along with musical instruments and microphones from his possession.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions related to alleged unlawful religious conversion, and further investigation is underway.
Police said his bank accounts would be examined to determine the source of the funding.
The arrest comes amid a series of similar cases involving Christian clergy in different parts of the country.
Last month, Pastor Albin, a resident of Vattapara in Thiruvananthapuram, was detained by police in Ghatampur near Kanpur after a complaint by Bajrang Dal district convener Shubham Shaurya Agnihotri. While his family members were initially taken into custody, they were later released, and the pastor was granted bail approximately a week later.
In another incident in Maharashtra, priest Sudheer of the CSI Church Nagpur Mission, along with his wife Jasmine, relatives, and friends, was arrested during a Christmas prayer meeting in Shingodi village of Nagpur district following a complaint by Bajrang Dal activists alleging religious conversion activities. The Varud court subsequently granted bail to Sudheer, his wife, and nine others arrested in connection with the case.
The recent arrests have once again drawn attention to the implementation of anti-conversion laws in several states, with critics raising concerns over their alleged misuse, while authorities maintain that legal action is taken based on complaints received and evidence collected during investigations.
