Mob beats up pastor in C’garh; raises slogans against religious conversion

The accused also vandalised Kawalsingh Paraste’s house, and threatened his family before fleeing. Kabirdham Police said the incident took place at around 1pm on Sunday in Polami village under Kukdur police station limits

Published on: Aug 30, 2021, 09:56:42 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Unidentified persons allegedly beat up a 25-year-old pastor and his family over charges of forced conversion in Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh, police said on Monday.

Unidentified persons also vandalised Kawalsingh Paraste’s house in Kabirdham district on Sunday afternoon. (Sourced)

The accused also vandalised Kawalsingh Paraste’s house in Polami village around 1pm, and threatened his family before fleeing, said Kabirdham Police.

“Paraste, a pastor residing in the village, said some people came to his house when Sunday prayers were going on and started vandalising the house. They later assaulted him and his family members,” Kabirdham superintendent of police Mohit Garg said.

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Police said the attackers were heard raising slogans to stop religious conversion. “We have identified some people and a case has been registered. A search for the accused is on ,” said Garg.

President of Chhattisgarh’s Christian Forum, Arun Pannalal, accused the police and the state government of not taking appropriate action in cases of attacks on Christian places of worship. “ We condemn the incident and appeal to the police to take action against the accused who are still absconding, ” he said.

He added that the forum will file a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court with all evidence of police’s inaction in recent cases of vandalism of churches in different districts of the state.

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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