Suspected Killer of Priest Arrested, Cover-up Suspected

15 September 2004

On September 8, we reported on the murder of Father Job Chittilappilly (view the story). According to Zenit, Reghu Kamar, 25, has confessed to the murder, saying he feared that Father Chittilappilly would convert Hindus to Christianity. Kamar also apparently wanted to revive a Hindu temple close to the church, Our Lady of Grace, where the priest served. The Hindu temple had been closed for twenty years. According to local beliefs, a Hindu priest had been killed twenty-five years earlier and the temple would only be restored by offering the blood of another priest.

Local Christians are not convinced that Kamar had acted alone and are suspecting a police cover-up. Pray for peace in the community and a resolution to this murder.

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

India

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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