Source:  www.assistnews.net

Date:  2008-01-23

By James Varghese
Special to ASSIST News Service

CHHATTISGARH, INDIA (ANS) -- An Indian pastor was arrested by the police on Tuesday, January 22, at 4.00 pm and kept in custody at Guroor Police Station for preaching the gospel.

He was Pastor Mohan C. Thomas, 55, of Bhilai and police filed a case against him under section of law 188 and 34.

Pastor Thomas was beaten up few days back by radicals belonging to a Hindu radical group called Bajrang Dal (Monkey Brigade) and they destroyed the meeting tent where he was preaching in Bhotli Village in Chhattisgarh state.

Pastor Thomas, an independent evangelist from Bhotli village, was attacked by a group of 60 Hindu radicals during a three day revival meeting conducted from January 15-17

The gang rushed the meeting place, got hold of Pastor Thomas, and started beating him badly with big sticks and then they burned the tent, dais, and chairs, and they even burned a Fiat car and a Honda bike.

After creating this havoc, they went away and a case was registered at Guroor Police Station. There were about 2000 believers out of which 20 people were beaten up including ladies.