Bajrang Dal activists thrash pastor in Madhya Pradesh

A pastor and his friend were abducted and brutally thrashed in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, by a band of Bajrang Dal activists over the allegation of forced conversion, a police official said on Friday.

The duo were kidnapped on Thursday from Gadra village, taken to a forest and thrashed and later tied to a tree until the police rescued them on Friday morning.

Recounting the incident, Pastor Ramlal Kori told IANS that on Thursday he went to Nandalal's home in Mauganj to offer prayer services. At night, the duo set off on a motorcycle to Gadra village upon hearing the news of the death of Nandalal's father-in-law. At the village, a few persons associated with the Bajrang Dal reached the spot and began assaulting them.

The activists dragged the two into the forest and thrashed them. Later in the night, Kori's wife lodged a complaint with the police, who rescued them the following morning.

Kori said that many Hindu activists accuse him of forced conversion, and denied that he is involved in such activities.

Mauganj Sub-Divisional Officer Kamalesh Sharma told reporters here that the pastor and his friend were kidnapped and brutally beaten.

The police is investigating the case.

--IANS

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