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  • Continuing Persecution in India

    India mapThe Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of continuing persecution of Christians in India this week.

    On March 10, members of the Hindu militant groups VHP and Bajrang Dal attempted to stop a women's prayer meeting in the home of Pastor Amit Sidhu in Bathinda, Punjab. The incident came to the attention of other area Christians who sought to intervene. In the ensuing clash, one of the VHP members was injured. Three pastors, Kulwan Raj, Chootta Singh and Harfool Singh were subsequently charged with making an attempt on the lives of the activists. The three appeared in court on March 12 and are being held in custody. Area Christians maintain that all allegations against the pastors are false. The following day, Vijay Bhardwaj, general secretary of VHP, and Sumit Kumar, co-coordinator of Bajrang Dal, led a group of fifty Hindutva activists and tried to attack the occupants of Pastor Amit Sidhu's house.
    (Source: All India Christian Council)

    On March 11, Pastor Matthew was returning to his home in Bangalore, Karnataka after serving as a translator at a meeting when he was ambushed by three men. He was repeatedly beaten with a cricket stump and has sustained injuries to his back and arms. It is believed the incident is in protest to a church Matthew has begun in the village of Cholanayakanahalli.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    On the evening of March 13, an independent church in the village of Tadiparti in East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh was burned by Hindu militants after Christians would not yield to warnings to stop proclaiming Christ. This is the second church in the village burned to the ground in the past month. Pastor G. Premanadam has appealed to the authorities to provide protection to the Christians in the community.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians, All India Christian Council)

    John SelvanVijay
    Pastor John Selvan and assistant Vijay
    Photos from    Global Council of Indian Christians

    On March 16, Pastor John Selvan (29) and his assistant Vijay (24) were about to leave a prayer meeting in Bangalore when approximately thirty young men surrounded them. The Christians in the home managed to hide Pastor John, but Vijay was taken to a eucalyptus grove and beaten.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    On March 16, two pastors, Pastor Juan Singh Sesobia (24) and Thogabai (25), were arrested in the Khargon district of Madhya Pradesh and charged under Section 295A for a deliberate and malicious act to offend religious feelings. If convicted, the two could face up to three years in prison. (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    Hindu militants in the village of Nuagad in Ganjam District, Orissa are threatening to burn the homes of twenty Christian villagers. The threats follow the defeat on March 17 of the BJP candidate in local elections. Furious, the candidate attacked one of the Christians in the village, Abraham Burdhan, chopping off a finger and inflicting serious cuts to his hands. Police have arrested seven Christians and nine BJP supporters. (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    Pray for those church leaders who are presently in jail on false charges. Pray that Christians will stand firm, knowing that their comfort is in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5). Pray that the persecutors will come to know Christ's love, forgiveness and blessing through the faithfulness of these Christians (Romans 12:14, 21).

    VOMC has released a new video report on the persecution in India entitled "Faith Under Fire: India." The video can be purchased from our online catalogue. A preview of the video is available at https://www.vomcanada.com/. For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.
  • Several Christians Beaten Throughout India

    The Voice of the Martyrs has received several reports of attacks on Christians throughout India during the past week. Here are several summaries.

    On March 6, Pastor Binoy Kuriakose and ten other Christians were beaten by members of the Hindu organizations Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal (BJD) while distributing literature in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. Pastor Kuriakose suffered injuries on his head, shoulders and legs. Several believers also sustained serious injuries.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    A missionary named Pastor Ashir was attacked on March 6 by a group of masked people armed with steel pipes and sticks, as he was returning from a prayer meeting in the village of Rikawaza, Kashmir region. His leg was broken and his family is also being. threatened
    (Source: Salem Voice Ministries)

    On the evening of March 7, two pastors were severely beaten by a mob of villagers in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan state. Villagers denied them any medical assistance for their injuries. (Source: Evangelical Alliance of India)

    Brother Bhaskar was beaten on March 7 in Lingarajapuram, Bangalore by two men who saw him handing out tracts to some women. The men pushed him up against the wall, punched him twice in the face and asked him why he had given the women these tracts. They also threatened to have him arrested if they found him distributing literature again.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    On March 11, in Andhra Pradesh, police officers and members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday (March 11) lured a pastor, Bakhthula Anand of the Bethesda Prayer House in Ambojipeta village into a remote forest. There they tied his hands and feet and beat him with wooden clubs as they accused him of offering money for Hindus to convert to Christianity. He is presently undergoing treatment for severe swelling and exhaustion after he managed to reach his home the following morning despite barely being able to walk. His wrists and ankles were bleeding and swollen after the militants untied and abandoned him six hours earlier. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Pray for Christians in India who face the rising threat of violence. Pray that they will rest in the knowledge that the Good Shepherd walks with them through this difficult time (Psalm 23). Ask God to grant a quick recovery to those who were injured. Pray for the continued spread of the Gospel in India in the midst of severe opposition.

    For more information on persecution in India,click here. A new DVD by The Voice of the Martyrs on the persecution in India entitled "Faith Under Fire: India" is available for sale through our online catalogue. For a free preview, go to www.vomcanada.com.
  • Christian College Attacked by Hindu Militants
    Photo fromGCIC
    On February 28, approximately 500 Hindu militants attacked a Gospel for Asia (GFA) Bible school in Brajarajnagar, Orissa state. According to a March 6 report from Compass Direct, the mob of Barjang Dal group members armed with sticks, axes and swords forcibly entered the campus of the Believers Church Bible College and started to beat the 240 students and staff members present. The women's dorm director and five of the students were seriously injured. One student is reported to be in critical condition. The attackers also ransacked the campus, destroying many school building roofs and disconnecting the electricity. They demanded that the school be closed and that GFA cease all their work in the state. At last report, no one had been arrested for the attack.

    Pray that God will give healing to all those who have been injured. Pray for Christians throughout India who are facing opposition from Hindu groups determined to stop the spread of Christianity.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here.
  • Youths Beaten for Distributing Christian Literature

    Two Christian youths were beaten by members of the Bajrang Dal (BJD) Hindu militant group on March 3 for distributing Christian literature, according to a March 6 report from Compass Direct. Bobby D'Souza (24) and Sandip Mohite (21) were handing out tracts at the Kandivli railway station in Mumbai, Maharashtra state when approximately fifty-five to sixty militants snatched the leaflets from their hands and started to hit and kick them. They dragged the youths to the local police station and filed a complaint against them on allegations of forcible conversion and denigration of other religions. Both of the youths were hospitalized for injuries.

    Pray that God will enable Bobby and Sandip to proclaim the Gospel even while suffering (2 Timothy 4:16-18). Pray that they will make a full recovery. Pray that Christians in India will never be ashamed of the gospel because God's power brings salvation through it (Romans 1:16).

    For more information on persecution in India,click here. VOMC has recently released a video report on the persecution facing Christians in India. You can view excerpts at www.vomcanada.com or order a DVD copy of "Faith Under Fire: India" from our online catalogue.
  • Police Refuse to Press Charges Against Church Leaders
    Pastor Amul Raj
    Photo from    GCIC
    For the past five years, Pastor Amul Raj (36) has been working as an evangelist. A year ago, he built a prayer hall in Harishchandra Ghat in Chritradurga district, Karnataka. For the anniversary of the building, the church held two days of meetings on February 16-17. According to the Global Council of Indian Christians, on the morning of the second day, Hindu militants barged into the meeting and started to beat those present. The militants broke chairs and other furniture. They then ran to the stage and began to beat Pastor Raj and other speakers. The Hindus shout slogans, including "We are all Hindus and we are all one."

    The attackers went to the police station and insisted that the police return with them to file charges against the pastors. However, the police refused, insisting that any person who was converted could lodge a complaint. Since the incident, however, Pastor Amul has received numerous threatening phone calls. Other believers in the area have also been threatened and are now fearful for their safety.

    Pray for Pastor Amul Raj his wife Mary Shaila and two sons, Abhishek (10) and Solomon (8). Pray that they and the church will trust God during this time (Revelation 2:10). Pray that God would be glorified as they steadfastly fix their eyes on what is eternal (2 Corinthians 4).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. Recent video reports on persecution in India are available on VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.
  • Christian Meeting Disrupted in Madhya Pradesh

    As many as fifteen Hindu militants attacked a Christian meeting in the Pathakhera area of Madhya Pradesh on March 2. According to a March 6 report from Compass Direct, Pastor Avinash Kanchan was leading the meeting of an independent church when the militants burst into the room and started to beat the twenty-five women and five men present. They slapped Pastor Kanchan, beat him with shoes and threatened the believers gathered. Kanchan's motorcycle was damaged and his cell phone, watch and Bible were stolen.

    Pray for protection and help for Pastor Kanchan and the other believers in Pathakhera. Pray that they will take comfort in the fact that God commends those who suffer for doing good (1 Peter 2:20-21). Pray that they will have opportunities to share their faith with their persecutors.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.
  • Young Pastor Killed in Andhra Pradesh

    On February 17, Pastor Goda Israel (28) left home for a prayer meeting and failed to return. Three days later, his body was found with stab wounds in a canal near his home in the village of Pedapallparru, Andhra Pradesh.

    Israel had graduated from the Emmanuel Bible Institute in 2003 and was supervisor over fifteen churches in the region. According to a February 27 report from Compass Direct, he had previously faced threats from Hindu militants because of his ministry. At this point, the reasons for his murder are unknown. Israel is survived by a wife and young children.

    Ask the Lord to give comfort to Goda's wife, children and others who mourn for him. Pray that they will find peace in the fact that the Lord will be exalted, whether in life or in death (Philippians 1:20). Pray that those who persecute Christians in India will come to repentance and accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 

    For more information on persecution in India,click here.
  • Christians Beaten by Militants in Raipur, India

    On February 19, a pastor's wife was beaten in Raipur, Chhattisgarh by a man responsible for an attack on her husband, Pastor Kanhaiya Lal Sharma, and five other pastors in December 2005. According to a February 23 report from Compass Direct, Kanti Sharma was at the community water tap with Jogi Sahu (19), an associate of the Hindu militant group Dharma Sena, when she saw him manhandling a female minor. She told him to stop abusing the girl. A few minutes later, Sahu and his brother sought the pastor's wife out at her home. They dragged her out of the house by her hair and beat her, giving her a bloody nose and a swollen eye.

    When Pastor Sharma took his wife to the Urla police station, the police refused to file a complaint against her attackers, insisting that the parties solve their dispute on their own.  The pastor's wife had to wait more than two hours for the police inspector to arrive before she was allowed to seek hospital treatment. Though the police stated that there was no religious motive for the beating, Christian leaders in Chhattisgarh claim that the incident was triggered by opposition to Pastor Sharma's hosting Sunday worship services in his home.

    On February 20, three pastors were also beaten in Raipur in an attack led by Panat Ram, a local politician from the Hindu nationalist Bjaratiua Janata Party (BJP). According to a February 26 report from Compass Direct, Elisha Baker, Balbir Kher and Nan Sai of the Believer's Church were attacked at approximately 3:00 p.m. while attending a three-day Christian meeting in the house of a local believer. They all received minor injuries. Prior to the attack, Ram had filed a police complaint against the organizers of the February 18-20 meeting for allegedly converting Hindus but police investigation proved his allegations false.

    Pray for the healing of all those who were injured in these attacks. Pray that church leaders in India will remain faithful to the task God has given them, knowing that they will receive the crown of life (I Peter 5:1-4). Pray that Indian Christians will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. VOMC has recently released a video report on the persecution facing Christians in India. You can view excerpts at https://www.vomcanada.com/ or order a DVD copy of "Faith Under Fire: India" from our online catalogue.
  • All India Christian Council Challenges Himachal Conversion Law

    Last week VOMC reported on the governor of Himachal Pradesh's decision to give his assent to the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2006 (click here for more details). This week VOMC partner, the All India Christian Council (AICC), announced that they will challenge the act in the Himachal High Court. In a February 22 press release, AICC stated that they are prepared to take the issue to the Supreme Court if necessary. Please pray for these Christians as they fight for recognition of their religious rights
  • Persecution Persists Throughout India
    Photo of Philadelphia Church destruction fromwww.persecution.in
    The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of persecution from across India this week:

    (a) In Maharashtra, a mob severely beat five Bible college students while they were sharing their faith on the streets of a local village on February 18, according to a report from Gospel for Asia. One of the students managed to escape and get help from the leaders of their college. Rushing to the scene, the leaders found the other four students who were badly injured. When they were taken to the hospital, doctors refused treatment until a police report was filed. Two of the students are in critical condition with head injuries and bleeding.

    (b) Also in Maharashtra, Hindu militants were recruited by a disgruntled former church leader to stop the construction of a prayer house for the Philadelphia Fellowship Church in the village of Vagda, according to a report from the Global Council of Indian Christians. After receiving building permits, the church began construction despite opposition. On the night of February 10, the partially constructed building was seriously damaged.

    (c) Thirteen workers of a Christian centre in Prem Nagar, Haryana were forced to move out of the area for their safety, according to a February 18 report from Compass Direct. On February 13, local officials demanded that the workers obtain official permission to run a Christian centre which provided education and a daily meal to approximately 100 underprivileged children. Authorities then locked the workers out of the house. Local villagers have been collecting signatures in an attempt to have the centre re-opened.

    (d) On February 8, a mob assaulted Father George Thoppil, Principal of the St. Thomas Higher Secondary School in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, according to a February 18 report from Compass Direct. The militants barged into his office, shouting obscenities against Christianity. They smashed furnishings and equipment, ransacked the residential quarters of the priests and destroyed a statue of Mary.

    The riot began after two young children were struck and killed by a truck 500 metres from the school. According to the Times of India, Hindu activists accused the school of creating a traffic hazard by keeping one of its gates closed. Saji Abraham from the All Indian Christian Council believes Hindu militants took advantage of the accident to attack Christians. Nine of the attackers have been arrested.

    (e) The Voice of the Martyrs expresses its deep disappointment to learn from the Evangelical Fellowship of India that Shri Justice Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje, the governor of Himachal Pradesh has decided to give his assent to the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2006.

    The Act forbids any attempt of a person to convert from one religion to another through inducement or fraud. Those found to be at fault will be imprisoned up to two years and/or fined. Anyone wishing to convert has to give thirty days prior notice to the district magistrate. The magistrate will then arrange an investigation to check the motives of the person wishing to convert. Similar legislation has been misused in other states to harass Christian workers and obstruct genuine conversions.

    Pray that as persecution increases in India, believers will find their comfort in Christ to be more than enough for them (2 Corinthians 1:5). Pray that the students who have been injured will recover quickly. Pray that those who have experienced property damage will rest in the fact that they have "better and lasting possessions" (Hebrews 10:36, 37). Ask God that, in His time, He would open the way for the Christian workers in Haryana to return to their ministry. Pray that persecutors throughout India would be challenged by the consistent testimony of believers and be drawn to Christ (Romans 12:14, 21).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. Video reports on persecution in India are also available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/. A new video entitled "Faith Under Fire: India" is also available for sale on VOMC's newly updated online catalogue.

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