Hindu Militants Assault Catholic School Staff

Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the militant group Vishwa Hindu Paraisha (VHP)

Several staff members of the Avila Convent Catholic Girls' High School in Mysore, Karnataka were assaulted by members of a Hindu militant group on November 30, according to a November 30 report from the Global Council of Indian Christians,

At approximately 11:30 a.m., four members of Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the militant group Vishwa Hindu Paraisha (VHP), entered the office of Sister Francina, the school’s headmistress, and started to accuse her of distributing Christian literature around a nearby Hindu Sadvidya School. She denied any knowledge of this distribution. They then brought in a man named Buta Singh and claimed that he was distributing Christian Literature at Sr. Francina's request. Singh denied these accusations and was dragged outside and severely beaten.

One hour later, fifty militants entered the school building and began to verbally assault the staff members and accuse them of unethical conversion. Some of the staff members were severely beaten after they attempted to defend Sister Francina from attack. The militants also damaged a statue of the infant Jesus.

Pray for endurance for Sr. Francina and the other staff members who run this Catholic school. Pray that they will continue find ways to teach others in God's truth despite continuing persecution. Pray that they will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48). Ask the Lord to heal those who were injured in these attacks.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, click here.