Uttar Pradesh: Pastor allegedly stripped and beaten over forced religious conversions

A pastor and his aide, who were under the suspicion of carrying out forced religious conversions, were allegedly stripped and beaten up by Bajrang Dal activists in Rewa, Uttar Pradesh, on the night of 21 July.

The pastor, Ramlal Kori, an ordained leader of Christian congregation, and his aide Nandlal Kori were allegedly performing a religious conversion of a woman and her son in Shahpur area of Rewa district at the house Vidyawati Saket when a group of 25 Bajrang Dal men abducted them and then beat them for six hours on Thursday night, Hindustan Times reported.

Both the victims were later rescued by Gadra Mohalla police and were admitted to the hospital. However, the pastor and his aide have been arrested by the police. Cases have been filed against Bajrang Dal, but so far no arrests are made, Hindustan Times reported.

According to additional SP (Mauganj) SK Singh, the duo was arrested and booked under Sections 4,5,6 of MP Freedom of Religion Act 1968, Hindustan Times reported.