Businessman Charged with Forcible Conversion

20 April 2005

Vidya Sagaran, a Christian businessman from Kayamkulam Taluka, in Kerala State, India was arrested by local police on March 30. He has been accused of forcing a Hindu man to convert from Hinduism.

According to an April 14 report from Compass Direct, Vishwanathan Pillai claimed that Sagaran loaned him money as a bribe to encourage him to convert. Pillai claims that Sagaran demanded the money back when he would not become a Christian. Sagaran's lawyer, Ranjit George, denies this, telling Compass that his client was simply a mediator in a money transaction between Pillai and a third party. When Sagaran requested the money back, Pillai accused him of bribery.

While Kerala State does not have anti-conversion legislation, Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code outlines punishment for anyone who "promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious groups." Local members of the Hindu militant group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are reportedly involved in encouraging Pillai to file the complaint.

Pray that charges against Sagaran will be dropped and that the ministry of Christians in this area will not be hindered. Pray that those opposed to Sagaran will see the love and grace of God shown through him.

For more information on the problems facing 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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