Attack on Chhattisgarh pastor: Two BYJM members arrested

On Sunday, a group accused Pastor Harish Sahu of indulging in religious conversion and manhandled him as well as Ankush Bariyekar, general secretary of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, and one Prakash Masih, inside Purani Basti police station

Updated on: Sep 7, 2021, 02:44:33 IST

By Ritesh Mishra, Hindustan Times, Raipur

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Two members of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) were arrested by Chhattisgarh police on Monday for allegedly beating a pastor and two others, inside a police station in Raipur, on Sunday.

The two BYJM members who were arrested for the attack on a pastor in Raipur on Sunday. (Sourced)

“Manish Sahu and Sanjay Singh were arrested from different locations in Raipur and were presented before the court. Six other accused in the case are still absconding. We have launched a hunt for them,” said Raipur superintendent of police (SP) Ajay Yadav. However, sources claimed that Yadav has since been transferred to police headquarters, apparently over the incident. They said senior officials were of view that the SP was unable to handle the issue and the accused should have been arrested immediately.

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On Sunday, a group accused Pastor Harish Sahu of indulging in religious conversion and manhandled him as well as Ankush Bariyekar, general secretary of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, and one Prakash Masih, inside Purani Basti police station.

A video of the incident went viral on social media following which, Yadav attached Purani Basti station house officer Yadumani Sidar to the police lines. An inquiry into the incident was also ordered.

Police registered a case against eight accused and booked them under sections 147 (rioting), 294 (obscene acts and songs), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code.

State unit of BJYM alleged the police took sides and claimed they will soon call for a state-wide protest against the police. “We are trying to contain forceful religious conversion in the state. Our people went to Purani Basti police station with a complaint against those pastors but police welcomed them, which led to a brawl. Manish Sahu is a division president of BJYM while Singh is a member,” said Amit Sahu, president, BJYM, Chhattisgarh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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