Pastor Thrashed, Forced To Chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’. Delhi Police Files FIR

The incident took place in South Delhi’s Fatehpuri Berri area on February 25 but the pastor Kelom Tet filed the complaint two days later at the Maidan Garhi police station.

Representational Image. (File Photo)

New Delhi: Days after a pastor alleged that he was thrashed, humiliated and forced to chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’ by a group of unknown persons, who accused him of carrying out religious conversions “forcibly”, the Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR into the matter.

The incident took place in South Delhi’s Fatehpuri Berri area on February 25 but the pastor Kelom Tet filed the complaint two days later at the Maidan Garhi police station.

“Based on the complaint, we have lodged an FIR against unknown persons under Sections 365 (Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and an investigation is underway,” said Harsha Vardhan, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), PTI reported.

A group of men can be seen surrounding the pastor and heckling him in the videos of the purported incident.

The pastor in his complaint alleged that a group of men harassed him and forced him to chant 'Jai Shree Ram' on February 25 when he was on his way to work after meeting one of his friends.

The police said Tet alleged in his complaint that the men snatched his Bible and tried to tear it, adding that the pastor was also allegedly punched and kicked.

“They snatched my bag which had valuables and the Bible. They tried to tear it but could not. They accused me of conducting religious conversions forcefully,” Tet alleged.

“They punched me, kicked me and forcefully took me in their car, saying they were taking me to Maidan Garhi police station. They also threatened to break my arms and legs,” he added.

The police said that the pastor was allegedly taken to Fatehpur chowk where the men tied his hands with ropes and started punching and kicking him again on the roadside.

“Around 100 people were standing there as mute spectators. No one came to rescue me. They made videos and watched me being thrashed and assaulted. But no one came to help,” Tet alleged.

“They also tried to instigate the students who were returning from school to chant "Jai Shree Ram" and beat me up. This went on for around 45 minutes,” he added.

Stating that he somehow managed to escape after the ropes on his hands loosened, the pastor said: “I kept asking them if I had done anything wrong and begged them to tell me the reason but they continued to physically assault me. I got so scared.”

“I tried to escape but they again pulled me by my collar and started punching me. I somehow managed to escape and tried to take shelter in one or two places but again I got no help,” he told PTI over phone.

The pastor managed to reach home and informed his wife, who is presently at their native place in Jharkhand capital Ranchi.

“My wife became afraid after hearing about the incident. She is also away and is expecting so cannot come here before her delivery. All I want is that the culprits should be caught and punished,” said Tet.

“I and my family should feel safe here in Delhi where we have been living for the last 18 years now and I need that assurance about the safety aspect,” he added.