Pastors and Congregants Arrested in India
Marshall Ramsey II, Worthy News International Correspondent
MANDYA, INDIA (Worthy News)– Two Christian pastors and some of their congregation were arrested last week for preaching the gospel in India, Worthy News has learned.
Pastors Sheathes Pas and Ravi Pas were arrested for conducting worship services in KR Nagar, Mandya, on August 15, 2010. Members of the Hindu nationalist groups Rashtiya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal, entered the house during worship service and proceeded to attack the congregation and the pastors. About 20 congregants, plus the pastors, were taken to the local police station after the attack. While the members of the congregation were later released, pastors Pas and Pas were still in jail.
BACKGROUND OF THE ATTACKERS
RSS is a Hindu supremacist paramilitary volunteer organization. It is also known as National volunteer Organization, National Patroitism Organization, and Sangh. It was founded by K.B. Hedgewar, a doctor from Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, in 1925. RSS served as a social and cultural organization in British India with the express purpose of opposing British colonialism in India and Muslim separatism.
Bajrang Dal is another militant Hindu organization operating in India. It is the youth wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and is based on the ideology of Hindutva, a term used to describe Hindu nationalism. Both groups are members of Sangh Parivar, a family of Hindu nationalist organizations started by RSS in the 1960’s.
The Christian advocacy group, All India Christian Council, who first broke the story, is currently working for their release.