A recent wave of attacks in the eastern state of Orissa, India has resulted in vandalism against church buildings, the burning of Bibles, Christian books, and an effigy of Jesus, as well as the sexual assault of a nun.
In late November, around a dozen members of the militant Hindu movement Bajrang Dal broke into a church in Deogarh, removing hundreds of books and burning them. At last report, no one had been arrested in the incident. One of the attackers was identified as a reporter with the local Orissa daily newspaper. According to police, they were protesting the recent conversion of four families in the village of Ambulpani under the ministry of Pastor John Nayak. They also broke into Nayak's residence and vandalized it while he was away. Bajrang Dal has been implicated in the burning death of missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in January 1999.
On November 20, Hindu militants demonstrated in front of the district governor's residence, burning an effigy of Jesus, along with Bibles and Christian literature. The mob then broke into a Catholic church in the village of Rajamunda where they smashed the windows and sexually assaulted a nun. They later went to a local magistrate, protesting the growing number of conversions in the area. They were told by the magistrate, however, that the Christians were doing nothing illegal.
Orissa state is mostly Hindu and is ruled by the nationalist Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party, which strongly opposes the conversion of Hindus to Christianity or Buddhism. Orissa, along with two other Indian states, has anti-conversion legislation, requiring those who wish to convert from Hinduism to obtain written permission from the local magistrate.
Pray that Indian authorities will enforce the rights of Christians and other religious minorities to freely practice their faith. Pray that many more come to Christ, despite the anti-conversion law. Pray for emotional and physical healing for the attacked nun. Pray for a peace of mind and heart for Christians throughout Orissa and other areas of India where militant groups oppose the spread of the Gospel.
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