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• Christians Attacked Throughout India

  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.

• Homes Destroyed by Fire in Indian Village

  Thirty-one homes in the village of Gandahati in Orissa, India were destroyed by fire on November 20.  The incident began as Christians and Hindus were discussing their religious beliefs.  According to VOMC sources, some of the Hindus became angry and set fire to the home of one of the Christians.  Since the homes in Gandahati are close together, the fire quickly spread to other houses owned by both Christians and Hindus.  Six Christians received minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital.  Police have set up a camp in the village to monitor the situation.

  Pray that the displaced families will be able to find adequate lodging as they wait on the Lord to provide for new homes. Pray that the Hindu neighbors whose homes were destroyed will turn to Jesus through this tragedy. Ask the Lord to draw the attackers to Himself and that the testimonies of God's people will be evident in the face of hardship.

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

• Indian Pastor Charged with Forcible Conversion

  On November 10, Pastor Masih Das Rai planned to baptize Govind Verma, the head of a local chapter of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).  Verma had earlier informed the pastor that he wanted to become a Christian.  But on the day of his baptism, he contacted a militant Hindu organization, the Dharma Sena ("Religious Army"), and complained about Rai and disclosed the details of the planned baptismal service.

  According to a November 18 report from Compass Direct, members of the Dharma Sena attacked Rai and twelve other Christians as they were worshipping during the ceremony.  They handed the Christians over to the police who interrogated them.  Rai was charged with "forced conversion" and deliberately insulting another person's religious beliefs.  Those attending the ceremony were pressured to give statements against Pastor Rai.  Unfortunately, some did so. Under the "forced conversion" charge, Rai could be imprisoned for up to one year and/or fined 5,000 rupees ($125).

   A delegation from the Church of North India has attempted to file a counter-claim against Rai's attackers for assault and for insulting his Christian faith.  The police have refused to hear their complaint.

  Pray that the Lord will give Pastor Rai and the other believers boldness to proclaim the gospel in the midst of the ongoing opposition they face. Pray specifically that Govind Verma will truly turn to Christ and become a powerful testimony to God's saving grace. Pray that those believers who were unable to withstand the pressure will understand that they can find forgiveness from God and move on to stand firm once again.

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.
  (Source: Compass Direct)

• Update: Church Threatened in India

  Last week, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on a threat to burn sixty Christians to death if they did not re-convert to Hinduism (click here to read more).  Compass Direct reported on November 21 that because of police intervention, the planned "re-conversion" ceremony was cancelled. The situation in the community remains tense.  Twenty villagers met on Sunday for worship, despite the threats.
  (Source: Compass Direct)

• Operation Mobilisation Team Beaten

  On the evening of November 10, following a showing of the "Jesus" film in Kothrud, near Pune in Maharashtra State, a team from Operation Mobilisation was attacked by more than twenty-five members of the militant Hindu group Siva Sena.  The mob beat the four Christians and caused over Rs 100,000 ($2,600 CDN) damage to their film equipment.  The team members were then dragged to the police station where a false witness told the police that the team had tried to bribe him to leave Hinduism and become a Christian.  The police reportedly abused the OM team members while in detention and confiscated their identity cards and film equipment.  One of the team members named Madan received serious injuries to his jaw.

  When the All India Christian Council (AICC) intervened, the police charged the team with using a loud speaker in public without permission and then released them. The AICC is considering filing charges against the Siva Sena as well as the local police.

  (Source: All India Christian Council)

• Pastor Beaten and Accused of ''Forcible Conversion''

  In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, more than sixty new believers are being threatened with death if they refuse to return to Hinduism. On November 4, Pastor Feroz Masih was traveling to a nearby village when he was stopped by approximately ten members of the World Hindu Council (Vishwa Hindu Parishad or VHP) and its youth wing Bajrang Dal.  They accused him of being involved in the forced conversion of Hindus.  According to a November 14 report from Compass Direct, Ramesh was then severely beaten and suffered serious internal injuries.  He was forced to sign a statement that he was willing to reconvert to Hinduism.  The VHP members then said they would be coming to his home on November 20 to conduct a puja (reconversion ritual) for Masih and the sixty members of his church.  Those who refuse will be burned to death.

  Masih and his son reported the beating and death threats to the police.  The police refused to press charges for the beating and called it a "minor incident."  They have not yet responded to the death threats.

  (Sources: Gospel for Asia, Compass Direct)

• Christian Dalits Attacked for Attending Festival

  On November 3, villagers in Bhoomas in Gujarat state gathered for a cultural event to celebrate the Hindu New Year.  Since the event was public, twelve low-caste Dalit Christians decided to attend.  However, when Hindu villagers from a higher caste saw them there, they became furious.  Approximately 150 Hindu villagers attacked the Christians.  Five were injured and two, Babubhai Jethabhai and Kashiben Ramanbhai, were admitted to hospital.  Police are investigating the attack, although no one has been taken into custody at last report.

  (Source: Compass Direct)

• Prayer Meeting Attacked in Uttar Pradesh

  Christians meeting for prayer in a home in Pratapgarh in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh were attacked by Hindu militants on Sunday, November 6.  The mob accused the owner of the house, Pastor Tarun Khosle and his wife, Asha Khosle, of converting Hindus to Christianity.  The attackers prevented the two hundred believers from leaving the house for several hours.  They also threatened to kill the family members if any "Hindus" were seen at future prayer meetings.  The militants then interviewed each person in attendance to ensure that no conversions were taking place.  The Christians were warned to not return to the weekly prayer meeting.

  (Source: Compass Direct)

• Pastor Attacked in Gujarat

  On October 23, Rev. Arthur Jebaraj, his wife, Nyana Sundari Jebaraj, and their driver, Dattu Daulat were returning to their home in Chempa in southern Gujarat, after attending a prayer meeting in Garma village. According to a report on October 27 by Compass Direct,  the members of the Friends Missionary Prayer Band (FMPB) reached the village of Kaparada Taluka, they were stopped on the road and questioned by several Hindu militants carrying sticks. The driver, fearing the crowd, rolled up his window. The mob immediately attacked them. All three individuals have suffered internal injuries. When Rev. Jebaraj and a few other believers lodged a complaint with the Kaparada police, they were told that their claims had no substance. The police refused to file their complaint.

  (Source: Compass Direct)

• Attacks on Christians Increase in Rajasthan

  According to an October 27 report by Compass Direct, on October 26, the tribal Christian Welfare Society was forced to cancel the last day of their three-day revival festival in Sagwa, a village in the Banswara district of Rajasthan state. For nearly two weeks, Hindu militants had been attacking Christians in the district. The violence escalated on October 25, when the revival meetings began in Sagwa. Over the next two days, at least fifty incidences of beatings of Christians occurred. The government ordered the Society to cancel the remainder of the meetings to avoid further violence.

  Amoung those attacked in Banswara district on October 25, were a group of nuns in the village of Bhandaria. A youth on a motorcycle saw them waiting for the bus early in the morning and hurried to gather several other youths armed with canes and weapons. The injured were taken to Udaipur and admitted to the government hospital. Two of the injured nuns were reportedly over sixty years old.

  (Sources: Compass Direct, The Times of India Online, Dajiworld quoting SAR News)