Church sale: Accused targeting CNI shrines across North India

The man who tried to sell off the historic Golaknath Memorial Church in Jalandhar at a throwaway price has a history of similar activities related to churches across North India.

Jordan Masih who was booked by the Jalandhar police for fraudulently trying to sell off the church at Adarsh Nagar, has also been booked by the Saharanpur police for a similar attempt there.

Another complaint has also been registered against him at Ferozepur for trying to sell off church land. This was confirmed by the Jalandhar police on Sunday.

An FIR was registered against Ludhiana resident Jordan Masih and his aide Mary Wilson by the Jalandhar police at the Nawi Baradari police station on Saturday evening for trying to sell off the Golkanath Memorial Church.

The FIR was registered on the complaint of Pastor Sarwan Masih, a member of the United Church of Northern India Trust Association, which manages the Golaknath Memorial Church, Jalandhar, also called the CNI Church.

The accused had struck a Rs 5-crore deal for the 24-kanal church on prime land and had accepted and a token amount of Rs 5 lakh.

Addressing the media, CNI Church members raised concerns on Masih’s activities involving churches in North India, while thanking the police for the prompt action.

Dr Amit Prakash, Secretary, Diocese of Chandigarh Church of North India said, “The issue had been going on for several days. Jordan Masih tried to get the registry of the land done and accepted Rs 5 lakh. We thank the police and hope for requisite action and arrest of the accused soon.”

“A gang has been targeting the land owned by the Church of North India (CNI). They forge documents and pretend to be members of the trust (running the church) to sell our land. Jordan Masih is Ludhiana resident and not a member of the CNI church. Although he shows himself to be a member of the diocese,” he added.

Members of the diocese also flagged cases against Masih at Saharanpur and Ferozepur.

On possible involvement of church or diocese insiders in the fraud, the diocese secretary said, “We neither accept nor deny the same as the matter is under investigation. But the shady dealing involving this church isn’t the first attempt by this gang.”

ACP Bharat Masih, said, “Jordan Masih already has several cases against him. He has been targeting land of other churches too. There is at least one FIR at Saharanpur and another complaint at Ferozepur. Mary Wilson was acting as his partner. Their other activities are being investigated.”

Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma said, “All leads are being pursued and the accused will be arrested soon. Our teams are on the job.”