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Hindus in the village of Mehendi Kheda, Madhya Pradesh, India are accusing Pastor Kamlesh Tahed (32) and three other local Christians of murdering a young man who was killed in a fight between two local clans, according to an August 31 report from Compass Direct. On August 8, Roop Singh Baria (22) was killed during violence between the Baria and the Tahed clan over 1,000 rupees (approximately $25 CAD) which had been borrowed by one of the Tahed family members. When members of the Baria clan filed a report with the police about the incident, they implicated Pastor Tahed, Kasna Tahed (25), Ramesh Tahed (26) and Vasna Tahed (36) in the murder. The four men and other local people insist that the Christians were not present when the murder took place.
Commenting on the situation, Pastor Tahed said: "I once was one of [the clan members], but in the 20 years since I became a Christian, they have been dragging me into false cases and hate me for my work of evangelism." In 2001, Pastor Tahed was jailed on false charges of "forcible conversion" for 20 days and released only after a costly court battle to prove his innocence. At last report, he was in hiding and the three other accused believers were in police custody.
Pray that the truth will come out in this situation and that true justice will reign. Pray for strength of faith for the accused Christians. Ask God to protect and encourage Christians in India as they share the Good News of Jesus.
Learn more about the persecution of Indian Christians at the India Country Report.
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