Madurai: Radical Hindu activists alleged attacked prayer homes of Pentecostal Christians at two places in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Police quoted Pastor Ravi Jacob, who lodged a complaint, that Hindu Munnani (front) activists on March 11 burnt some pamphlets and copies of the Bible and abused pastors and the faithful at Koodal Nagar and Sikandar Chavadi areas.
Jacob alleged that 10 people came to his house that day, took away copies of the Bible and damaged them.
A clip of the group reportedly threatening the people has gone viral.
A case was registered two days later against 10 Hindu activists, including three who were identified.
The Police said some activists, during initial questioning, denied that they had attacked the homes and had only staged protests against people being allegedly lured for conversion.
The activists said the complaint was a ploy so that some organizations could continue their “illegal conversions.”
Police said they had received complaints from the public that some prayer homes were being running illegally, demanding that these be closed.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Latin Bishops’ Council had condemned the attacks and said it was an effort to “chase away” Christians who had a fundamental right to worship.
This was not a law and order problem, but denial of right to worship and destruction of secularism, the Constitution and democracy, Council president Bishop Anthony Pappusamy said in a statement.