Police arrested three pastors on conversion charges in Amapalli Deogarh, Sambalpur, district of Orissa today at around 12 noon while conducting a baptism.

Some villagers of the Amapalli village requested Pastor Lamuel Patnaik, Pastor Philemon Naag, and Pastor Sudhir Nag to do a baptism. While they were in the process of giving the baptism to those who have already embraced Christianity earlier, a group of villagers came and objected at around 12 noon today. The matter was reported to local police and a team of local police led by the Superintendent arrived at the spot and stopped the baptism ceremony.

Police have arrested all three pastors and taken them into police custody for further investigation

The Kandhmal in Orissa shook the world with religious persecution faced by the Christian minority from Hindutva fascist forces. During violence which lasted until mid-October of 2008, the GCIC recorded: 315 villages damaged, 4,640 Christian houses burnt, 54,000 Christians homeless, 90 people killed (including least 6 pastors and one Roman Catholic priest killed) and another 50 missing and presumed dead, 10 priests/pastors/nuns seriously injured, estimated 18,000 Christians injured, at least two women (including a nun) raped, an estimated 300 churches and "prayer halls" destroyed (252 according to the state government), and 13 Christian schools and colleges damaged.

Orissa has the 1967 Freedom of Religion Act, which is anti-religious freedom in nature. Under this law, Christian minorities have been attacked by religious fanatics. The Freedom of Religion Act of 1967 does not allow any civilian to change their choice of religion without prior information given to the district magistrate. This law is against the fundamental and Indian constitutional rights.