Police crackdown on Sunday prayers at church in Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh police cracked down on a Palm Sunday gathering at a church at Rayavaram in East Godavari district. The pastor was taken into custody for allowing 150 people to gather for the Holy Week prayers.
The worshippers at the church were also found consuming water from the same utensil. Rayavaram sub inspector of police, L Srinu Nayak said that a case has been booked against the church pastor N Vijay Ratnam for violation of lockdown, social distancing orders, and unlawful assembly.The devotees, who hailed from villages of Madnapet mandal, were sent home.
“None of the prayer attendees were wearing masks. Devotees partaking in Holy Communion were drinking from the same jar,” said a witness. Vijay said that as it had been a month since they had a meeting, they decided to gather for prayers.
Despite the Federation of Telugu Churches assured both chief ministers, K Chandrashekar Rao and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, of keeping all prayers on hold, some independent churches were found to be holding meetings.
On Saturday, Light-Life Ministries Church at Tadepalligudem in West Godavari conducted a meeting with 48 pastors. A case was registered and they released after counselling. M Jayababu, the pastor, was identified as the organizer of the meet.
On March 29, Samuel, a pastor from Neredmet was also detained for violating lockdown orders. He was released later. Federation of Telugu Churches executive secretary Dr Fr Anthonyraj Thumma wrote to both states saying that church services are shut and that priests are conducting virtual mass .