ON April 16 in Dharmapuri, alleged Hindu extremists accused a pastor of forceful conversion and filed a complaint against him on the basis of Government Order (G.O) 746 and 747, which bans propaganda by other religions near the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams temple and 19 other Hindu temples across the country.
According to information reaching EFI, Pastor Ahron along with one church member were distributing pocket calendar when the extremists noticed them, started verbally abusing them and forcefully took the pocket calendars from the pastor and took him to the local police station. They filed a police complaint against him on the basis of G.O 746 and GO 747.
The above Ordinances of 2007 empowers the State to prohibit propagation of other religions in particular places of worship or prayer than the religion traditionally practiced there.
Further, on April 17, the extremists staged a strike and called for Dharmapuri local bandh demanding the arrest of the pastor. Police investigation is on. EFI
