Credit: Omar Rashid Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in the state, the Christian prayer centre has been on the radar of local dominant caste and Hindutva groups.
Troubles brewed for the prayer centre since the BJP came to power in UP In 2018, an FIR was lodged against Yadav and 270 others, including many of his associate pastors, based on the complaint of a Hindu Jagran Manch activist.
They were booked under various penal offences, including giving dangerous drugs and other banned substances under the garb of medicine, cheating, defiling a place of worship, inducing people to believe they will attract divine displeasure, hurting by poison, and criminal conspiracy, Though the administration barred prayers at the centre, Yadav evaded arrest and eventually got a stay in his favour from the Allahabad high court.
Hussain Ahmad, naib tehsildar, a key officer in the revenue administration, in his complaint claimed that they [the pastor and his family and associates] wanted to teach the officials “a lesson” for investigating the legality of the land.
A third FIR was lodged on the same day under Section 3 (2) (va) of the stringent SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, on the complaint of a Dalit man, Dharamraj, who alleged that Yadav had “illegally” transferred samadhi land to the prayer centre 10 to 12 years ago, through intimidation.
On October 9, police arrested Yadav, his wife, son Manish, and associates, pastor Sanjay Masih of Mirzapur and Manoj Jacob, UP president of the Christian forum, Rashtriya Isai Mahasangh.
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