Om Prakash Pandey, a lay pastor from Chowri Bazar of Faizabad district, was taken to Kurebhar Police Station in Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh and beaten up by Vishwa Hindu Parishad coordinator Amarjeet along with Constable Mahendra Singh on 14 July 2006.

Pastor Ram Prakash said Pandey was warned not to talk about Christianity by VHP activists in Chowri Bazar when he was talking about his new-found Christian faith on 14 July 2006. Later when Pandey was going to attend the Sunday worship in Jamoli village nearby, Amarjeet along with other VHP activists took him to Kurebhar Police station and detained him the whole night without food. He was beaten by Constable Mahendra Singh on the charge of converting to Christianity in spite of being an upper caste.

When All India Christian Council contacted Police Inspector JL Saroj in charge of Kurebhar Police station on 19 July 2006, he denied having arrested Pandey. This was in spite of the fact that he was arrested without any charges, detained in the police station the whole night on 16 July 2006 and assaulted by the police officers.

Pastor Ram along with eight other Christian members went to Kurebhar Police station in early morning of 17 July 2006 and got him released. “Christian leaders lodged a complaint with the police but the police refused to register it,” Pastor Ram said.

Pastor Ram then submitted a written complaint to Senior Superintendent of Police of Sultanpur District with copies to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister of India and District Collector of Sultanpur to book the culprits and protect the Christian minorities in the State.

Pandey, a tuberculosis patient, is a member of Light Church in Sultapur led by Pastor Ram. All India Christian Council sought action against JL Suraj who denied the charges of forcibly retaining Pandey in the police station and physically assaulting him.