Andhra Pradesh ‘Reconversion’ Attack 
A Hindu seer, Shankaracharya Sri Swaroopanandenda Saraswati, led the “reconversion” of about 70 Dalit Christians in a function held at Maridimamba temple in Recherla area in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district on Easter, according to a report in the regional daily newspaper Andhra Jyoti. The “reconverts” reportedly took an oath saying, “We will live as Hindus and die as Hindus.” It could not be ascertained, however, whether the “reconverts” were actually Christian.

The seer, who is the head of Visakha Sarada Peetham sect, said he organized the function to protect Hinduism. He also accused “some culprits” of indulging in “forcible conversion” of “innocent people.” The reconversion program, he announced, would spread to Srikakulam, Chittoor and Hyderabad districts later this month.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS or National Volunteers Unit), along with its numerous affiliate groups, on April 2 had staged a motorcycle rally in Kaviti area in Andhra Pradesh’s Tekkali division, alleging that Christians were converting Hindus through force and money enticements, according to the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).

Meanwhile, an unidentified group brutally attacked a Christian worker on March 21 in Andhra Pradesh state. Dr. Sajan K. George, GCIC national president, told Compass that 29-year-old Samuel Bandaru was attacked at about 7:30 p.m. while he was returning on his bicycle from a Lenten prayer meeting in a believer’s house in Thumnalapalli, Srirangapuram area in Nalgonda district. The attackers covered Bandaru’s face with a mask and for three hours beat him while taunting him that Jesus was a “foreign God” and accused him of being a terrorist. The extremists dragged the Christian to a schoolyard and tried to strangle him. They pummeled his entire body, threatened him with a knife to his throat, and vandalized his bicycle.

The Mothey police station has registered a complaint against the group; however, no one has been arrested.

Andhra Pradesh is ruled by the Congress Party; its chief minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is Christian. Still, Hindu extremists remain highly active in the state. Accusing Reddy of giving a free hand to Christian missionaries, the extremists launch frequent attacks against Christian workers.

Arrest in Uttar Pradesh 
On April 5, Maundy Thursday, police in Uttar Pradesh state’s Chandauli district arrested a pastor of the GEMS ministry on a false complaint. The inspector of the Nawgad police station, Nandu Ram, told Compass that local residents had lodged a complaint based on a newspaper report claiming Pastor Munsi Lal had converted Hindu families by paying them.2,000 rupees ($45). Lal was jailed for one day before he was fined 111 rupees ($2.50) and released.

Lal told Compass that he was safe although the atmosphere in his village remained tense following the incident. Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections started April 7 and will conclude May 8.

Copyright 2007 Compass Direct News