Pastor and Six Others Charged Following Humiliation by Hindu Villagers

Pastor Subas Samal, his associate pastor Dhanishwar Kandi, and five others from Kilipal village in Orissa state, India, have been charged with "conversion by inducement" under the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (OFRA). According to a June 3 report from Compass Direct, these charges follow arrests of six Hindu villagers after eight Christian women and Pastor Samal were beaten and humiliated for their faith (click here for more details). According to the charges against them, the Christians are accused of forcibly converting twenty-five Dalit villagers over a period of ten years, luring them with financial rewards. The lawyer for the Hindu villagers who humiliated the Christians also claims that the Christians shaved their own heads, "tonsuring" themselves in order to malign the Hindu community.

Pray that the charges against these Christians will be dropped and that the truth will prevail. Pray for a continued ministry by Christians in Kilipal, and that the Gospel of Christ will reach the Hindu villagers who brought these charges against these believers.

For more information on the trials facing Christians in India, click here.

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.

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