Haveri, (Karnataka): Pastor Suresh was conducting a usual Sunday prayer service on 23-01-2011, Sunday, at 11 a.m. at the residence of Mr. Rajanna, a believer, in Hirekerur coming under Haveri district of Karnataka. About 45 other believers were also present. We understand that a group of about 50 Bajrang Dal fundamentalists, led by Shivakumar, Raghu and Veera, forcibly entered the house and stopped their worship and continued to abuse them using the foulest of language. They also forcibly took possession of all their bibles.

The police from the Hirekerur Police Station, on learning about the incident, came to the spot and took some of the believers to the police station for a detailed inquiry. In the mean time the GCIC also got in touch with the Police Sub Inspector, Mr. Shankar, who after taking an undertaking in writing from them that they should not visit houses in the village and try to convert the villagers to Christianity, let them go home.

Pastor Suresh belongs to the Christ’s Discipleship Prayer Fellowship Church, at Navanagara, and he has been serving the ministry for the last 14 years, and this is the 4th attack on him. The believers who were detained by the police and had to give an undertaking in writing are: Pastor Suresh, Rajanna, Bagya, Netra, Shiva, Sunitha and Doreswamy. They were detained in the police station for more than 3 hours. Please pray for them.