Doddaballapur- Bangalore: Pastor Bhaskar John Poojappa, 30, accepted Christ about 15 years ago and he has been living a quiet life with his wife, Divya, 23, and two little children, both girls aged 4 and 2 years in Sriramanahally on Doddaballapur Road in Rural Bangalore District. He has been also spreading the good news and the blessings he has received from the Lord ever since, in his village and the surrounding places. Every Sunday about 30 of them met regularly for their Sunday worship at their church, Holy Mountain of God Church at Hadde Village about 10 kilometres from his residence. The church is managed by a Trust called Divine Mercy Ministry for People. The Trust also runs an orphanage for female children and he has about 20 little children in the orphanage. Raju, 32, Lakshmamma and Akkayamma, all believers from the nearby Honnenahally also assist him in his work.

On Wednesday, 6-7-11, at 11 in the morning, one Munireddy and his friend Rajanna, along with about 20 Hindu fundamentalists, all belonging to RSS and Bajrang Dal outfits, attacked Raju’s house and mercilessly beat him up alleging that they are involved in conversion work in the surrounding villages through fraudulent means and threatened them with dire consequences. They then found out Pastor Poojappa’s residence address and at 9 in the night attacked him and his family. We understand that they ruthlessly beat up all the members of the family, slapped them and kicked them all over the body, and didn’t even spare the two year old little child. Then they dragged the pastor to the Rajenkunte Police Station in the dead of night. When the GCIC learnt about the incident, immediately moved into action and got in touch with the local political bigwigs and the Police Inspector, Mr. Vijay Kumar, who, we understand, was a very reasonable officer. After detailed discussions long after midnight with all concerned, an understanding was arrived at and the pastor gave and undertaking in writing that he would not resort to any forcible conversions as alleged by the fundamentalists. Hence, the pastor was set free from the police station some time after midnight.
However, dissatisfied with the outcome, it is learnt that the Sangh Parivar activists used pressure from all sides and forced the Inspector to take action against the pastor. The poor pastor was again asked to go to the police station on Thursday 7-7-11, morning. The GCIC also followed up and went to the police station. After prolonged discussions, and also Inspector Vijay Kumar’s firm stand, we understand that Pastor Poojappa was allowed to go home as free man without any charges against him. Thanks be to God.