In four unrelated incidents, Hindu militants attacked Christians in the past two weeks in various states around India.
(a) Panvel, Maharashtra:
On November 26, a group of young people attacked three Christians who were distributing literature at the State Transport Bus Terminal of Panvel Taluka near Mumbai, Maharashtra. Shaji Samuel, Biju Jacob and Reji Paul, all members of the Panvel Brethren Church, were selling Bibles and Christian literature when a young man approached them. He took some literature from the stack and flipped through it. He then asked why there was no mention of the 330 million Hindu gods in it. The young man became angry and approximately thirty others joined him and began beating the three Christian men. The three were then escorted to the police station where they made statements on the attack. Only when police saw blood coming from Shaji's mouth did they allow them to go to the hospital for treatment. In a statement to the Pakistan Christian Post Shaji said, "Though we were brutally attacked, we have no hatred toward any one. Neither have we made any complaint to the police. We forgive the attackers, like Christ who said on the cross: 'Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.'"
Uphold these three men in your prayers. Thank God for their Christ-like response to this attack. Pray that their attackers will come to faith in Jesus Christ.
(b) Nadia, West Bengal:
On the evening of December 3, a mob ransacked the Jalalkhali St. Luis Catholic Church in the Nadia district north of Calcutta in West Bengal state. The vandals destroyed furniture, stole silver chalices, ripped pages out of the Bible and burned them and desecrated the communion bread. According to a December 5 Associated Press report, two people have been detained. Police are considering the attack to be common theft or retaliation for a campaign against crime initiated by the church leaders.
Pray that those involved in those involved in this attack will trust Christ to pull them through this difficult time, finding their comfort in Him.
(c) Raipur, Chhattisgarh:
According to a December 5 report from Compass Direct, on Sunday, December 4, at least twenty-five members of Dharma Sena, a militant Hindu group, attacked a church in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The mob severely beat four of those present, including two visiting speakers. The four Christians and an area pastor who was dragged from his home were forcibly taken to a local Hindu temple. The militants tried to force them to bow before the idols and proclaim, "Victory be to the god Ram." The Christians refused. One of the guest speakers, Masih Das Rai, said to them, "You can kill me, but I will not bow down to the idol." Rai had been previously accused by Dharma Sena of forcibly converting people to Christianity (click here for more information). The militants also attempted to force four of the Christians to sign a document stating they had been involved in forced and fraudulent conversions. Two of the four signed the document.
Christian leaders have repeatedly requested that police file charges against the attackers. The police have refused to do so. Two of the Christians, including Masih Das Rai, were detained by police for questioning but later released.
Thank God for the faithfulness of these men who refused to bow to gods made by human hands even though their lives were at risk. Pray for their protection and for their full recovery.
(d) Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh:
Also on December 4, members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked a pastor in the Jhabua distrist of Madhya Pradesh. According to a report from Compass Direct on December 5, Pastor Anil Mehra had just begun a worship service with six other people in his home when a neighbour disrupted the meeting. Shortly after the disruption, a leader of the RSS, Inder Singh Dawar, along with approximately fifteen other people, invaded the house. The pastor was injured as the mob beat him on the head and kicked and punched him. One of the attackers threatened to slit his throat. The attackers forced Mehra out of the home and then called police, accusing him of noise violations. Police also beat Mehra and took him to the police station for questioning. He has been ordered to appear for a hearing on December 12.
Pray that Pastor Anil Mehra will find relief from his pain and reassurances from God's Word. Pray that the hearing on December 12 will result in his godly name being cleared of all wrongdoing.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India, click here.
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