Attack on pastor: Sulthan Bathery police register suo motu case

The Sulthan Bathery police have registered a case as part of the continuing investigation into the alleged manhandling attempt by a group of suspected Bajrang Dal activists against a pastor accusing him of conducting a door-to-door religious campaign for conversion in Wayanad district.

The suo motu case was registered on August 2 after a video clip of the alleged attack, which took place on April 2, 2025 following allegations over forcible religions conversion attempts, resurfaced on various social media platforms.

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The statement of the pastor who represented the Pentecost church would be recorded soon. However, no formal complaint was raised by the threatened pastor till date.        

Police sources said efforts were on to identify the attackers involved in the incident. The suo motu case was registered under Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with the intent to cause riot), 351 (3) [criminal intimidation to cause death or grievous hurt] and Section 3(5) [criminal act done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 

A senior police officer associated with the ongoing investigation said the pastor was threatened by the gang when he reportedly went to a tribal settlement at Cherukad near Sulthan Bathery to invite children to a summer vacation camp on April 2. “The statement of the tribespeople at the settlement would be recorded soon for more clarity,” he added.

The incident comes to light at a time when the State is going through an intense political storm over the recent arrest and imprisonment of two catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, alleging forcible religious conversion and human trafficking attempts. The Bajrang Dal and the BJP activists had drawn the criticisms of their political opponents and the church in the name of supporting the legal action.