Bagesakleshpur, Hassan (Karnataka): Pastor John Frederick D’Souza, has been serving the Lord in a village called Bagesakleshpur in Hassan District in Karnataka during the last 8 years. He is in charge of a House Church called End Times Full Harvest Church in a leased building at Bagesakleshpur. He lives in the same building with his wife Balzy D’Souza (30) and a son. It is a House Church and he has a congregation of about 25 believers, and he did not have any problem from any quarters during all these years.

However, 3 weeks ago, the Inspector of Police Ganesh, in charge of the Rural Sakleshpur Police Station, visited the church and questioned the pastor whether he has obtained the license and the necessary permission from the competent authority to run a church in his house. He also told him that there had been complaints against him that he had been involved in forcible and fraudulent conversions of Hindus to Christianity and that he must stop such illegal activities immediately.  read more »