Pastor Praveen’s death in AP: Christian groups slam fake news, seek impartial probe

Hyderabad: Days after the suspicious death of Praveen Pagadala, a renowned Christian preacher, the members of the Christian Democratic Alliance strongly condemned the misinterpretation and the alleged character assassination of Praveen in public, especially about some unconfirmed CCTV footage of him telecast on some TV channels.

Earlier, Praveen’s wife, Jessica Pagadala, posted a video, thanking the Christian community for their support and urged the public not to spread fake news. In a video message, she expressed satisfaction over the police investigation into the death of Praveen. She asked the public not to spread fake news on Praveen’s death and disturb communal harmony.

CM ordered probe into Praveen’s death

Praveen was found dead under suspicious circumstances near Rajahmundry on March 25.

The 45-year-old preacher, known for his religious work in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, was on his way to attend a Christian convention in Chagallu, East Godavari district, on his motorcycle, when the incident occurred on National Highway (NH-16).

A preliminary inquiry by the police said that Praveen died due to a road accident. However, Christian groups suspected it to be a religious hate crime. Family members said it was a premeditated murder, citing injuries on his face.

Following his death, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered an extensive probe. The final postmortem report and forensic report were awaited.

Christian groups allege foul play

The Christian Democratic Alliance (Kraisthava Sanghaala Ikya Vedika) strongly condemned the news spread by certain media outlets.

Addressing the media on Thursday, retired IPS Dr K Babu Rao, who is the national president, Civil Rights Initiative Internationale (CRII), urged the government to ensure a fair and transparent investigation and take strict action against those responsible for this tragic and suspicious death.

Christian groups are alleging foul play as they suspect it to be a motivated murder.

While the police investigation is still on, several media channels shared some CCTV footage which allegedly shows the pastor buying alcohol at liquor stores, stating that he died due to an accident caused by drunk driving.

Reacting to the video spread on social media, several organisations have raised their voice that the CCTV footage has been fabricated. The community raised doubts about whether the CCTV timings were digitally altered.

Contradictions and unanswered questions

According to Sanjeev Tenali, national secretary general of the National Christian Council, several unanswered questions and contradictions point towards foul play behind Praveen’s death:

1. His motorbike was found on top of his dead body, an unusual scenario for a typical accident.

2. His face was bruised and covered in blood, yet there were no injury marks on the rest of his body.

3. His 350cc motorcycle showed no significant damage, which would be expected in a fatal road accident.

4. A shoe mark was discovered on his right chest, suggesting he may have been forcefully kicked. Wood splinters with blood stains were found near the site, raising further suspicion.

The council also listed demands regarding Praveen’s death:

1. We strongly condemn the misinterpretation and character assassination of pastor Praveen Pagadala. All baseless allegations and false narratives against him must stop immediately.

2. We demand a judicial inquiry led by a three-member committee of sitting judges to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.

3. We urge both State and Central governments to introduce and implement a Christian Protection Act to safeguard the rights and security of the Christian community in India. The Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA) has officially approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Minority Commission, seeking justice.

4. The Andhra Pradesh Police, under the chief minister’s guidance, has constituted a committee to investigate the matter. However, we insist that this inquiry remains independent and free from external influence

5. We strongly oppose any attempts to exploit pastor Praveen’s tragic demise for political purposes.

6. We call for an immediate end to provocation, communal violence and hate speech that fuels enmity between religious communities.

Congress party protests in Parliament

In a post on X, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal condemned the brutal attack on Christian priests in Jabalpur. He stated that it’s a reflection of the ruling regime’s agenda of spreading hatred and dividing people along religious lines.

“Violence against Christians has been on an alarming rise, with over 840 incidents reported last year alone. When Opposition MPs tried to raise this in the Parliament, we were silenced once again. In protest, we walked out and protested in front of Parliament,” wrote Venugopal in a post on X.