KOZHIKODE: Police have registered a suo motu case after a video surfaced on social media showing a group of men threatening a Christian pastor in Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad and accusing him of attempting religious conversion. The men, allegedly affiliated with the Sangh Parivar, can be seen issuing violent threats, warning the pastor not to visit Hindu households again. The incident reportedly took place in April, but no case was registered at the time as no formal complaint was filed. It came to light only after the video began circulating widely on social media, especially following the recent arrest of nuns in Chhattisgarh.

In the video, about six men are seen blocking the pastor's vehicle, shouting abuse and threatening him. One man is heard saying, "If you enter Hindu homes again, there won't be any more beatings. Your legs will be chopped off." According to sources, the pastor had travelled to the Cherukad tribal hamlet to invite children to a vacation class when the group confronted him. An attempt was also allegedly made to physically assault him.

Police have now registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), Section 351(3) (criminal intimidation), and Section 3(5) (offences committed by several people in furtherance of a common intention). The first information report notes that the accused not only issued serious threats but also deliberately filmed and shared the video on social media to incite communal unrest.

Police have made contact with the pastor and are working to identify the individuals involved. A detailed investigation is underway to verify the sequence of events and determine if others were part of the incident. Meanwhile, BJP leaders have stated that the individuals seen in the video are not associated with the Sangh Parivar.