Arun Pannalal is a 75-year-old church leader who serves as president of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum. On August 7th, he was arrested after being accused of posting a comment on social media that allegedly offended the religious sentiments of Hindus. The comment was reportedly made in response to an existing Facebook post.
Acting on a complaint, police arrested the elderly Christian leader, charging him with "promoting enmity between groups, deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, and intentional insult with the alleged intent of provoking a breach of peace."
Before the courts examined the case, the state's chief minister, Vishnu Deo Sai, publicly described Arun's alleged remarks as "objectionable" to Hinduism, raising concerns among observers about judicial impartiality. However, Arun's son, Vaibhav, insists that his father would not have posted such a comment and believes that Arun's identity may have been fraudulently used online.
Human rights experts have also voiced concerns over the charges. One advocate stated, "Arun Pannalal's real offence is that he has refused to stay silent." Following the arrest, a mob gathered outside the Christian leader's home in Raipur, but police dispersed the protestors without incident.
Accusations against religious minorities have continued to increase in various parts of India, particularly in states where the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party is in power. For additional information on the persecution of Christians in this South Asian nation, go to our country profile.
- As Arun and his family await a hopeful safe release, pray that they will experience God's peace, strength and encouragement throughout the difficult process.
- Ask the Lord to grant believers across India wisdom as they interact with others, both in person and online, so they will reflect His character and compassion within every situation.
- May Christians in Chhattisgarh and throughout the nation remain faithful and courageous as they share the hope of the Gospel, trusting the Lord to guide, equip and bless their ministry endeavours.
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