Karnataka police reportedly have banned 15 Christian families from gathering for worship services based on the presumption that they are fraudulently converted to Christianity as they are not Christians by birth.Â
According to International Christian Concern, a Christian organization, located in the United States, working for the human rights of Christians and religious minorities around the world, 15 Christian families in Bannimardatti village, located in the Hassan District, were summoned on 4 January to a meeting with the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) along with other police officials.
Then they were asked to prove that they were Christian, accusing them of availing benefits provided by the government as both Christians and Hindus.
Recently, Karnataka BJP politicians pledged to enact a law to regulate religious conversions and criminalize fraudulent religious conversions.
“The DSP’s order is in direct conflict of the religious freedom rights held by India’s citizens under Article 25 of the constitution,” said the Christian group.
“The divide between communities is growing and the anti-conversion law that the state government of Karnataka is trying to enact will worsen the situation for religious minorities,” a local pastor said on the condition of anonymity.
