With the conviction of thirteen Hindu activists in the burning death of missionary Graham Stewart Staines and his two sons in January 1999. Christians in India fear reprisals from militant Hindu groups. According to a report in the Hindustan Times on September 20, a group claiming to defend Dara Singh, who was convicted of the murders, has threatened to kill a Catholic priest in Orissa if the conviction is not overturned. Father Kuriakose received the letter after Singh and the others were convicted on September 15. Police are investigating the validity of the letter.
In a separate incident, Mid Day Multimedia reported that Hindu activists stopped a prayer meeting in Borivali, India on September 18, driving at least 100 Christians out and locking the hall. The Hindus claimed that the Christians were planning to convert people to Christianity during the meeting, accusing them of using money as inducements for conversion. According to police, they have received complaints from both the Christians and the Hindus and are investigating.
Pray for inner peace for Christians in India during this time of tension. Pray that violence will not continue and that there might be continued opportunities for Christians to show the love of Christ to their Hindu neighbors.
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