On January 19, an angry mob numbering close to seventy people attacked a newly-constructed Catholic school in the village of Nagrijuli which is located in the northeastern state of Assam, India. Compass Direct reported on January 26 that the mob claimed staff members of the school were attempting to convert Hindus; something the Vicar General, Father Varghese Kizhakevely, denies. St. Jude's school was about to begin the first day of classes when the attack took place. Thankfully, the students had not yet arrived for the day and no injuries were reported.
A local newspaper claimed that villagers were opposed to the school, something denied by Vinay Masih of the Evangelical Fellowship of India. He told Compass that, until this incident, there were no tensions between different communities in the area and many of the village people had even helped to build the school. Catholic officials reported, however, that "certain vested interest groups" had been attempting to intimidate the school authorities in an attempt to prevent the school's opening.
Pray for the people of Nagrijuli, as they deal with the loss of this resource for their children. Pray that this incident will not be used to stir tensions between religious communities in the area.
For more information on persecution facing Christians in India, click here.
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