By Owen Toomey–
Pastor Praveen Pagadala, a respected Christian apologist and evangelist in South India, died under suspicious circumstances after weeks of alarming threats and fears for his safety. His death has shaken the Christian community and sparked a movement demanding justice and clarity, the Christian Post reports.
Pastor Karunanidhi Indupalli, secretary of the Federation of Telugu Churches, said, “Pagadala had confided in his followers about receiving death threats.” This was just weeks before he was mysteriously found dead.
Pagadala, 46, was traveling from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry when he was found dead by the roadside early on a Tuesday. Authorities initially declared the incident a road accident.
But for those who knew him and many who followed his passionate defense of Christianity the details didn’t add up. They found the situation to be very suspicious, resembling a targeted attack. He had reportedly received multiple death threats and had attended a prayer meeting the night before his sudden death.
Hundreds gathered outside the Government General Hospital in Hyderabad, calling for a transparent investigation to be held. The pressure led hospital authorities to conduct an autopsy, though results have not yet been disclosed.
Anthoniraj Thumma, a Catholic priest and advisor to the Federation of Telugu Churches, pointed out several red flags. He questioned why the pastor was riding a motorcycle alone at night when he owned a car and urged police to analyze CCTV footage and speak with potential witnesses. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a full investigations and appointed a special investigative team along with an executive magistrate to examine the case.
“Pastor Praveen Pagadala’s death was not a road accident as several pieces of evidence at the crime scene suggest that it was a murder. Along with his family members, everybody has suspicions that it was a meticulously planned murder”, said YS Sharmila, president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).
Pagadala was more than a preacher, he was a widely respected author, speaker, and debater, a truly respected member of the Christian community in India. He was a man of deep faith and despite the rising religious tensions he never shied away from spreading the Gospel. He was truly a leader in India’s small Christian population.
India’s Christian minority makes up about 2.3% of the population. In 2023 alone, the United Christian Forum recorded over 800 incidents of harassment and attacks against Christians across the country.
For many, this tragedy is a dark reminder of the dangers that vocal Christians like Pagadala face in a country where their religion is a minority and often targeted.
The reaction to Pastor Pagadala’s death says a lot, not just about who he was, but also about the growing worries over religious freedom and justice in India. As his wife and young children grieve, people are calling for justice and peace for believers everywhere.
