Pastor Killed by Masked Men

Man with his head in his hands
Pray that believers will sense the comforting presence of God’s Holy Spirit who grieves with them in their loss.

Pastor Yallam Shankar was at home in Angampalli, Chhattisgarh, on March 17th when five masked men suddenly burst in. After dragging the pastor from his home, the attackers stabbed him to death outside. The slain man is survived by his wife, two sons and grandchildren.

In addition to serving as a senior pastor of a church within the village, Pastor Yallam was an influential member and former leader of the community. According to Christians in the area, he had been receiving death threats from Hindu nationalists just days before the attack because of his ministry activities. He also received threats from violent Maoist rebels known as Naxalites, who were distributing pamphlets in the region along with a warning that any pastors who converted people to Christianity would be killed.

A handwritten note was found at the crime scene accusing Pastor Yallam of being a police informant. Although the Naxalites allegedly claimed responsibility for the killing, local Christians suspect that Pastor Yallam's attackers may have been local Hindu nationalists instead. To read reports of other persecution-related incidents in India, indicating an increased number of violent cases against the country's Christians, visit our country report.

Pray for Pastor Yallam's wife and family as they now mourn the sudden loss of their loved one, asking the Lord to comfort and strengthen them with His reassuring presence – filling their troubled hearts with His peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Also prayerfully uphold the members of Pastor Yallam's church family and others of the community who are likewise trying to process the loss of their esteemed friend and leader. May those responsible for the attack be brought to justice and, of even greater importance, experience the life-transforming power of the Gospel as Christians in the community continue to faithfully serve as testaments of God's love and forgiveness.

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

  • Christian Woman Killed by Relatives
    A woman is silhouetted against a sunset.

     

    A Christian woman was beaten to death with a hammer and other weapons on June 24th because of her conversion to Christianity. The murder took place in Toylanka, a village in the state of Chhattisgarh.

  • Young Convert Killed and Widow Forced to Flee
    Jime Kawasi is looking down with her eyes closed.
    Kosa Kawasi's wife, Jime.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    On May 4th, 22-year-old Kosa Kawasi was killed during a violent mob attack while at his home in the village of Kapanar, Chhattisgarh state. The mob, believed to have been led by the young man's uncle and cousin, was angered that Kosa and his wife Jime had converted to Christianity. As a result, the opposing villagers had unsuccessfully tried to force the Christian couple from their home. Following this incident, the angry community members physically confronted the believer – ultimately inflicting a lethal stab wound.

  • Prison Sentence for Alleged Forced Conversions
    Pastor Ramesh Ahirwar and Sakshi.
    Pastor Ramesh Ahirwar and his wife Sakshi.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    A Christian couple was recently sentenced to prison after accusations were made that they had been involved in pressuring others to convert to Christianity. Pastor Ramesh Ahirwar and his wife Sakshi are from the village of Vivek Nagar in Madhya Pradesh. A man had accused the couple of abducting his estranged wife Sapna (who also happens to be Pastor Ramesh's niece) before allegedly pressuring her to convert, holding the woman against her will, and not allowing her to return home to be with him. He also purported that the Christian couple offered to build Sapna a home and give her money each month. The complainant, Abhishek, further claimed that the Christians attempted to convert him as well, offering him a job in return.