Kamlesh Tahed (34) lives in Mehandikheda in Jhabua and is a believer. On 8th August 2009, Kamlesh organized a meeting in a village called Chattarpur, 500 kilmeteres away from his own village. At the same time his associate Bahadur also held a meeting in Mehandikheda. About 125 people attended the meetings and many people put their faith in Christ. The people belonged to both the communities of the area – Tahed and Bharia. The village heads Sarpanchs were not very happy with this development as they have been involved with the Hindu extremist group – the RSS. Kamlesh had received several threats from them.

On 8th August 2009, the same day the meetings were being held, a young man from the Baria family was murdered. He had been having an affair with a girl from the Tahed family and the families were not happy about this. On that particular day the young man was wandering around the Tahed family home and was caught by some members of the family and beaten to death. These members were not believers. In retaliation the Bharia family burnt 16 houses of the Tahed community, killed their hens and took away their goats.

The village heads, Sarpanchs, filed a case against Kamlesh’s entire family and placed his name second in the list. Altogether 16 of them were arrested and later released.

Kamlesh was informed about the incident and was told not to return to the village for a long time as the people were in a rage and he could be tortured badly. Since Section 302 was laid against him, which was for murder, he has been absconding since then staying with friends and relatives.

On the 28th May of 2011 his friends, pastors and relatives decided to bring him back to his village. They reported to the Kalyanpura police station, 10 kilometers from Mehandikheda and Kamlesh was arrested on the same day.Kamlesh is married and has five children. Please pray for his speedy release.