On June 13, police in Shyampur, located in the Haridwar District, arrested Pastor Sanjay Kumar Bharati, his wife, his three children, and several members of his church. According to Morning Star News, the police were acting on a complaint that Pastor Bharati was violating COVID-19 restrictions by holding a small prayer gathering.

After being taken to the Shyampur police station, officers began beating Pastor Bharati and questioning him about illegal religious conversions.

“As soon as I was taken inside the police station, a policeman slapped me three or four times on my face and punched me in my stomach,” Pastor Bharati told Morning Star News. “He hurled curses and accused me of alluring people and converting them.”

According to Morning Star News, police officers took Pastor Bharati to an inner room where they wiped him on his legs and feet with a leather belt.

Source: Persecution.org