Rape case: Arrested pastor was once a Haryanavi Jat

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 19

Self-styled miracle healer, pastor Bajinder Singh, who was arrested by the Zirakpur police for an alleged rape case, was actually a Haryanavi Jat. He converted to Christianity and began preaching in Punjab. 

He was arrested from the Delhi international airport on Wednesday while he was set to board a flight to London.

The priest was running Church of Wisdom and Glory, a Pentecostal Church, which he had set up at Tajpur village on the Nakodar road, around two years ago. 

His Sunday programmes drew a gathering of around 2,000 followers. He had a huge following on social media too for his healing programmes. 

Pastor’s YouTube channel — Jesus Miracles — had videos of his events, the most popular being the one where he showed that he could make a dead child come alive. The programme also drew much criticism with many saying that the child had been drugged before the event. 

He held events in Jalandhar, Ajnala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Kurali. Gaining popularity quickly, he even had a following abroad. “His followers used to invite him for two to four days programme. He was leaving for London for the July 21 event when he was arrested,” said one of his followers.

Members of the Rashtriya Masihi Sangh, whom he was associated with, said the pastor often shuttled between Jalandhar and Chandigarh. He used to stay with his wife and two children at Sector 15 in Chandigarh. 

About the case, Rashtriya Masihi Sangh members said, “We are not sure if we will support him or not in this case. We do not have any facts about the case yet.” 

The Jalandhar Diocese PRO, Father Peter, said the pastor was in no way aligned to the Diocese. “He ran independent church, which is not even recognised. His style of preaching does not conform to the mainline churches,” he added.