KARNATAKA, INDIA (ANS) -- The Karnataka state police barged into a church, disrupted the prayer meeting, and alleged that the pastor and members of the church were engaging in “forceful conversion” at Koppa in Karnataka state, India on Sunday, December 27.

This was revealed by the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), who stated that the police team entered the India People Ministry Church, Koppa, and at about 11:30 AM and forcefully stopped the Sunday prayer and worship service.

The source said that the police instructed Pastor D.M. Kumar, aged 50, to immediately stop the worship. It was alleged that they warned the pastor of his arrest if he continued to conduct worship or prayer service in this same location.

It was also alleged that the police accused the pastor and congregation of “forceful conversion” and verbally abused the pastor for conducting a worship and prayer service “without government permission.”

James Varghese is a reporter for Masihat newspaper in India, and is also a freelance journalist working for ANS.