The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a directive to the district collector and the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Mancherial district to conduct an inquiry and lodge an FIR against Pastor Praveen Kumar and Sharon for violating child rights. This action follows a disturbing case involving a minor girl who was subjected to cruelty and forced to walk during the Miracle Show organized by Calvary Ministries Church.
The NCPCR’s directive dated July 10 was in response to a complaint filed by the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a Hyderabad-based legal rights group. The complaint detailed the cruel actions taken under the pretext of miracle healing shows organized by Calvary Ministries in Bellampally, Mancherial towns of Telangana.
.@NCPCR_ directed the District Collector and Deputy Police Commissioner, Mancherial to initiate inquiry into activities of Calvary Ministries & register case against Pastor Praveen Kumar and Sister Sharon for violating provisions of JJ (C&P) Act, 2015, and other relevant laws. https://t.co/1yr4HqJnRf pic.twitter.com/Z8WFadBGnt
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) July 10, 2024
According to the LRPF, on May 16, 2024, a video was posted on the official YouTube channel of Pastor Praveen Kumar in which the mother of a young girl explained that she had taken her daughter, who had been under treatment at the ICU of Niloufer Hospital, Hyderabad for kidney damage, directly to the Calvary Church’s Miracle Healing Show in Hyderabad.
As per the statement of the girl’s mother, doctors informed them that the girl would not survive anymore and as a result, they took her daughter to the Calvary Church directly from the ICU, ignoring the warnings of the doctors. She also said that they signed an undertaking letter stating that doctors do not hold any responsibility if something happens to the life of their girl.
LRPF argues that it is also evident from the video that the little girl, who was just brought from the ICU after rejecting ongoing medical treatment by her parents, was subjected to cruelty and forced to walk during the Miracle Show by Pastor Praveen Kumar to assert and promote themselves as Miracle Healers.
The NCPCR directed the district magistrate and police to revert with the action taken report within 3 days.
The legal rights group has also alleged that Pastor R. Praveen Kumar and Sister Sharon are habitual offenders in such activities. In 2019, they promoted themselves as miracle healers by praying over 21-year-old Rajesh, who was seriously ill and brought to the church by his hopeful parents. Despite Rajesh’s worsening condition and the parents’ wish to take him to the hospital, the church and its pastors denied them, resulting in his tragic death. Angered by this, the parents lodged an FIR at the Kasipet police station in Bellampally against Pastor R. Praveen Kumar, Sister Sharon, and two others, holding them responsible for Rajesh’s death.
