Another Punjab pastor, 12 others booked on rape, kidnapping charges in Dera Baba Nanak

A pastor and 12 other persons have been booked on the charges of rape and kidnapping at the Dera Baba Nanak police station following a complaint filed by a 22-year-old girl.

The victim alleged she was beaten up and forced to convert by the accused pastor, Manjit Singh.

Apart from Manjit Singh, the other accused are his father, Sawar Masih, sisters Kajal, Rina and Jina, the victim’s cousin, Napinder Singh, Parvez Masih, Happy Masih, Rajinder Singh and Rimi. Two unknown persons have also been booked.

This is the third incident in which Christian pastors have been involved. Earlier, Mohali-based Bajinder Singh was sentenced on rape charges while Gurdaspur-based Jashan Gill was taken into custody on similar offenses.

Sections 70, 127 (4) and 61 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been invoked in the FIR registered at the Dera Baba Nanak police station.

The complainant, in her petition, said, “Sawar Masih procured my ID from my cousin brother, Napinder Singh, and started following me on the social media platform. On January 19, Sawar and his family members kidnapped me from my house and threatened me with sharp-edged weapons. Later, they took me to an unknown place where I was kept for three months and was repeatedly raped. Pastor Manjit Singh also came there and said from now onwards I was a Christian. Somehow I managed to escape on April 13 after Sawar and his family had gone outside and had forgotten to lock me inside the house.”

SSP Suhail Qasim Mir said, “We are investigating the case. I have formed several teams and we hope to nab all the accused soon.”

Punjab