From our correspondent
Three American preachers who were conducting Bible education classes at Malvani village in Malad were assaulted and one of them allegedly kidnapped on 12 June 2005 by a mob, who accused them of performing conversions. The kidnapped preacher was later found on the morning of 13 June 2005.
Eight American preachers had come to the city and were at Malvani village where they had been conducting Bible study classes for adults and children since June 6. On 12 June 2005, the last day of the class, a mob of over 30 people came to the house in which the classes were being conducted and accused the preachers of converting people to Christianity.
Jincy George (16), who was present at the class, said, "The men accused us of converting people and even tried to hit me, but I managed to escape along with five of the women preachers."
According to Jincy George, people from the mob caught the preachers and beat them up brutally. Two of the preachers, Phillips Allen and Clover Edwards, were hit and kicked by the mob and the third preacher, Richard Jenal, was beaten and then whisked away in an auto-rickshaw.
Allen and Edwards were taken to the Bhagwati Hospital for medical treatment. Jenal was later found on the morning of 13 June 2005 after he managed to find his way to a friend’s house in Andheri.
Dolphy D’Souza, president of the Bombay Catholic Sabha, said, "We condemn this type of intimidation on a peaceful gathering. Such incidents occur only because some people want to create an atmosphere of fear among minorities."
When contacted, Vyankatesh Aapdev, president of the state unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, denied any VHP involvement. He added: "They were conducting conversions at the venue, which outraged people who then attacked the preachers."
The police on 13 June 2005 arrested Bharat Koli and Ramesh Keni, who were part of the mob. They were later produced before a Sessions Court the same day and released on bail.