Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police have

arrested a pastor of the All India Saints Church following

allegations against him of converting several Muslim youth to

Christianity, officials said on Sunday.

Pastor CM Khanna was arrested from his residence in the

church premises in Ram Munshi Bagh area here late last night

after he was named in a case relating to alleged conversion,

they said.

Charges under Sections 153-A and 295-A of the RPC were

registered against him in the local police station last

evening, they said.

The police action comes in the wake of protests at many

places in the Kashmir Valley on Friday over the issue. The

agitators also staged a protest against hosting of

anti-Islamic remarks on a social networking site.

A video had surfaced here last month in which Khanna was

allegedly shown baptising at least six Muslim and one Hindu

youth.

Earlier, Khanna had appeared before a group of Islamic

scholars Friday to clarify his position after failing to

appear before the Sharia court.

A spokesman of the Islamic court said initially Khanna

denied of converting any youth, but admitted to it after he

was shown evidences.

"He said he has converted 15 youth so far and agreed to

provide the details soon," the spokesman said.

PTI