Indian Bible society missionaries ceased operations in the earthquake-devastated areas of Jammu and Kashmir after being accused of carrying out conversions.
Police have detained individuals claiming to part of the Kashmir chapter of the Bible Society of India after villagers from Madiyan and Kamalkote complained that they had coerced converts with promises of food and water.
The locals reported to the police that the missionaries had been distributing gas cylinders, water bottles, audio cassettes and copies of the Urdu New Testament to each family in the villages. They also claimed the Christian workers
Senior Superintendent of Police, Varmul Ashkoor Wani, said that subsequent police search revealed packs of Urdu translations of the New Testament and cassettes propagating Christianity. He also stated that those involved were given stern warnings.
Bible Society leaders have openly denied such charges, stating that the officials harassed the workers for insubstantial reasons.
The organization has promoted education and making the Bible available to the predominantly Hindu nation for the last 150 years. In the past months since an earthquake affected the region last October, the Indian Bible Society has actively sent groups of aid workers.
Christian relief groups have been amongst the first to send supplies and are continuing relief work in Indian and Pakistan. Tens of thousands have reportedly been aided with food and shelter in the months following the South Asia earthquake.
