Villagers angry over Church serving Wine to Kids

In a shocking incident, villagers revolted in Andhra Pradesh alleging that their children were being drugged and induced by Church authorities.

The incident happened on 18th December 2022 at Maruvapalli village of Penukonda Mandal, Sri Satyasai District in which villagers entered the Church and found their children being served ‘Wine’ under the pretext of church ritual.

It is informed that, though no Christians existed in Maruvapalli village, a Church named FMPB Church was constructed without obtaining any necessary permissions from government authorities. Villagers alleged that the Church focuses mainly on innocent Hindu children, inducing them by offering eatables and gifts. Despite strong objections raised by villagers, the Church pastors didn’t change their attitude and continued to attract the children.

On 18th December 2022, the village children who went missing were found in the FMPB Church, and by the time villagers entered it, they noticed an unusual activity where pastors served ‘wine’ to kids. Immediately they called the local police who arrived at the spot have ceased the wine bottles and collected liquid samples for Lab Testing.

Villagers and parents of the minor children lodged a formal written complaint with the Deputy Superintendent of Police and Station House Officer of Penukonda. In their complaint, they stated that they had observed abnormal changes in their children’s behaviour since they were taken to the Church. Though the incident attracts several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Juvenile Justice Act and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, no case has been registered yet.

The Legal Rights Protection Forum has lodged a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights seeking notice to the Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh to register an FIR under relevant sections.