Belagavi: Police stop Protestants from renting community halls or other places Belagavi District to hold prayer meetings on concerns of law and order disruption.
Protestants do not have a dedicated church in Belagavi. They have been renting private halls to offer Sunday services for over 15 years. Now, they are holding online prayer and service meetings. After the recent attack by the Fringe group Shri Ram Sena Hindustan In which members of the community were accused of indulging in forced conversions, the police have asked community leaders not to hold such gatherings at rented places, fearing that they may be targeted.
Belagavi city police chief K Thiagarajan said the police were acting on public complaints. “Community halls, residential buildings and other establishments should not be taken on rent for regular prayers. If anyone wants to worship in such facilities, permission has to be taken from the government,” he said.
pastor Thomas The Full Gospel Assembly said police have verbally instructed 25 prayer groups not to gather in the hall.
Conducting Online Meetings: Pastor
They said that they do not have designated churches and, therefore, meet on Sundays at rented places, houses or other establishments.
pastor Prabhakari Bailhongal that Ram Sena workers barged into the badminton court where they met for prayers and attacked them a few days back. It has been his event-free prayer place for 15 years.
“We’re having online meetings now,” said Emanuel GaikwadiA pastor conducting such prayers under the banner of Belagavi Bible Church at the Royal School in Belagavi. He said that a police officer attached to Tilakwadi police station called him on phone and asked him to stop such gatherings, after which the school owner also refused to rent the hall.
‘extremely upset’
Gaikwad said the community is deeply upset as the police action violates the right to worship enshrined in the Constitution.
Protestants do not have a dedicated church in Belagavi. They have been renting private halls to offer Sunday services for over 15 years. Now, they are holding online prayer and service meetings. After the recent attack by the Fringe group Shri Ram Sena Hindustan In which members of the community were accused of indulging in forced conversions, the police have asked community leaders not to hold such gatherings at rented places, fearing that they may be targeted.
Belagavi city police chief K Thiagarajan said the police were acting on public complaints. “Community halls, residential buildings and other establishments should not be taken on rent for regular prayers. If anyone wants to worship in such facilities, permission has to be taken from the government,” he said.
pastor Thomas The Full Gospel Assembly said police have verbally instructed 25 prayer groups not to gather in the hall.
Conducting Online Meetings: Pastor
They said that they do not have designated churches and, therefore, meet on Sundays at rented places, houses or other establishments.
pastor Prabhakari Bailhongal that Ram Sena workers barged into the badminton court where they met for prayers and attacked them a few days back. It has been his event-free prayer place for 15 years.
“We’re having online meetings now,” said Emanuel GaikwadiA pastor conducting such prayers under the banner of Belagavi Bible Church at the Royal School in Belagavi. He said that a police officer attached to Tilakwadi police station called him on phone and asked him to stop such gatherings, after which the school owner also refused to rent the hall.
‘extremely upset’
Gaikwad said the community is deeply upset as the police action violates the right to worship enshrined in the Constitution.
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