Homes Burned and Christians Beaten in Orissa

As Rabindra Mallick, brother of Pastor Kulamani Mallick, was returning from the market in the village of Matiapara in Orissa, India on January 15, he was beaten and abused by local Hindus.  To prevent problems in this small village of 70 people (where only nine are Christians), the incident was not reported to the police.  The next day, however, local villagers armed with "lathis" (bamboo rods) attacked the Christians.  Their houses were ransacked and the home of Pastor Mallick was set on fire.  Nearby homes also caught fire and were destroyed.  Six of the eight homes burned belonged to Christians.

According to a January 25 report from Compass Direct, police have arrested five of the villagers involved in the attack.  Hindu villagers have also accused the Christians of forcible conversion.  Members of the militant youth organization, Bajrang Dal, claimed the Christians were using torture to convert Hindus to Christianity.  Pastor Mallick and his cousin Gunanidhi Mallick were arrested but were later released on bail.  The All India Christian Council is urging the government to provide compensation, food and shelter to those now without homes.  At last report, no aid had been received.

Pray that our brothers and sisters in Matiapara will be able to rejoice in the hope they have in Christ because of the false accusations leveled against them. Pray that Pastor Mallick will have clear direction from the Lord as he shepherds the people through this time.

For more information on India and the persecution experienced by Christians there, click here.

(Source: Compass Direct)

India Information

  • Current Ministry Projects

    VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”

    Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defense, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry, Medical Fund

  • Country Information

    Population
    1,399,179,585 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)

    Religion (%)
    Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

    Leader
    President Droupadi Murmu (2022)

    Government type
    Federal parliamentary republic

    Legal system
    Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for India

    Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.

India News

  • Supreme Court to Review Anti-Conversion Laws
    The India Supreme Court building is surrounded by trees.
    The Supreme Court of India.
    Photo: Wikimedia / Subhashish Panigrahi (cc)

    The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a series of petitions challenging the constitutionality of anti-conversion laws enacted by several of the country's states. On September 16th, the court issued notices to the respective state governments, requesting their formal responses within four weeks. The case is scheduled to be heard in six weeks, and the judges have indicated that they may consider ordering the states to pause the enforcement of their existing laws until a decision is made.

  • New Policies Further Restrict Religious Freedom
    A brightly lit church building is filled with people.
    A church in India.
    Photo: Flickr / Ashish Kumar Milap (cc)

    Recent developments in two Indian states have raised serious concerns for Christians, particularly in relation to the newly heightened restrictions on religious conversions. In the first incident, police in Chhattisgarh notified more than 200 house churches around the state capital city of Raipur that worship gatherings within private homes are no longer permitted.

  • Pastors Arrested and Assaulted
    A crowd is gathered around a church building.
    A screenshot of people disrupting the service in Bhilai.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    On July 20th, six pastors were arrested after a mob disrupted a church service in Bhilai, a city located within the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The assailants chanted Hindu slogans and accused the pastors of engaging in forcible conversions. As the mob grew increasingly vocal, shouting obscenities and threatening violence, Pastor Baksh locked the church doors to protect his congregation members.