Police have arrested nine Christians in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for holding Sunday prayer meetings, which Hindu groups alleged were meant to convert local Hindus.
The arrests were made in identical cases reported from two places on Feb. 23. Five people, including a pastor and three women, were arrested in Sitapur district while four others including a pastor were arrested in Raebareli district, said local media reports.
The arrested Christians had gathered for regular Sunday prayers insides houses when Hindu mobs barged in and alleged they were defaming the Hindu religion and its deities and offering inducements to convert people.
The police seized religious materials including copies of the Holy Bible as evidence of conversion activities, media reports said.
“They were later remanded in judicial custody,” said a Church leader who is assisting the arrested Christians.
The leader who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals said the police action was based on “mere allegations from right-wing Hindu activists and without any evidence.”
This story was originally published in ucanews.com. Read the full story here.