Beleagavi: The police have banned Protestants from renting community spaces or other places in the District of Besavav because they hold a prayer church for fears of legal lord’s disorder.
Protestants do not have a dedicated church in Bellagavi.
They have rented private rooms to offer weekday services for more than 15 years.
Now, they hold prayer meetings and online services.
Following the recent attack by Fringe Group Sri Rama Sena Hindustan who accused the community members to pamper forced repentance, the police have asked community leaders not to hold such churches in places hired amid fear that they might be targeted.
City Police Chief Kota Kota Kayaagarajan said the police acted on complaints from the public.
“Community Hall, residential building, and other companies should not be rented for routine prayer.
If anyone wants to worship in such facilities, then permission needs to be obtained from the government,” he added.
Pastor Thomas Full Gospel said the police had verbally instructed 25 prayer groups not to gather in the hall.
Meeting online: Pastore said they did not have a designated church and, therefore, met on Sunday in a rental place, a house or another place.
Father Prabhakar from Bailhongal said Activists Ram Sena broke into the badminton court where they met with prayers and attacked them a few days ago.
This has become a free prayer place for their incidence for 15 years.
“We are now meeting online,” said Imanuel Gaikwad, a priest who organized such prayers under the banner of the Bible Bible Church, at the Royal School in Batalaghiavi.
He said a police officer attached to Tilakwadi station called him by telephone and asked him to stop such a meeting after the school owner also refused to rent a hall.
‘Very annoyed said the community was very upset because police actions violated the right to worriedly guaranteed in the constitution.