A Christian missionary, Chin Min Thang, was brutally beaten by Hindu militants in Uttar Pradesh on September 24, according to an October 2 report from Asia News. Chin's attackers accused him of proselytizing members of the Tharu Tribe, one of the poorest tribes in India. Chin is a teacher of Tharu children in Najota Village.
Thirty-five Hindu militants forcibly entered Chin's home and dragged him outside in broad daylight. While some brutally beat him, others ransacked his possessions.
When other villagers realized that Chin was under attack, they promptly came to his defense. They even refused to leave him after the attackers fired threatening shots into the air. Thang Boi, a Christian teacher who works with Chin, said: "Had [the villagers] not intervened, the mob would have lynched him." As the Hindu militants left, they warned Chin: "If you do not quit the village and stop your conversion work, we will kill you!"
On September 27, Boi and Chin filed a report at the local police station. However, the police officers have yet to start their inquiries. Village residents claim that local police are in collusion with Hindu fanatics.
For five years, Boi and Chin have been helping the Tharu children in Najota village attain high school diplomas and promoting literacy throughout the area. Jagat Rana, the leader of the Tharu tribe, made it clear that--although the Christians talk about their faith--"they have never asked or forced anyone to convert." Rana also said that "Our community will stand behind these Christians under all circumstances."
Thank God that the villagers are determined to stand with the Christians. Ask God to give Chin Min Thang a heart of forgiveness and that both his friends and enemies will respond in faith to Christ as a result of his testimony (Matthew 5:14-16, Romans 12:14, 21). Pray that the police will act on this incident quickly and that there will be true justice.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India, click here. A new video report on India is now available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.
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