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India

• Church Convention Stormed by Militants

  For the past forty-seven years, the Church of God in Raipur's Raja Talab area has been holding an annual "Gospel and Revival Convention."  On the afternoon of October 15, Hindu militants stormed the convention.  According to an October 18 report from Compass Direct, the militants pointed to three women on the stage and alleged they were tribal people kidnapped by the Christians for conversion.  Police interrogated the women who denied all the allegations.  Nevertheless, the next day approximately seventy militants from the "Dharam Sena" (Army of Religion) returned to the convention. They attempted to disrupt the meeting by shouting abuse and anti-Christian rhetoric.  There were no serious injuries.

  (Source: Compass Direct)
• Bishop's Home Attacked

  Bishop Vincent Samuel

  In the early morning of October 17, the home of Vincent Samuel, the Catholic bishop of the diocese of Neyyatinkara in the southern state of Kerala was attacked by four people armed with wooden staffs.  A security guard was injured and three vehicles were damaged. Those responsible fled when a police patrol approached. The reasons for the attack are uncertain, but the local mafia is believed to be responsible.  The bishop is known to be an outspoken advocate against the problem of alcoholism in the area.
  
  (Source: AsiaNews)
• Update: Government Attempts to Intervene in Court Case

  Last week's Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on an upcoming court case defending the rights of Dalit Christians in India (click here for details).  The Court heard the case on October 18. The Indian government argued that since a Commission has been appointed to look into the matter, the Court should dismiss the case.  The judges disagreed, saying the issue was a matter of constitutionality and thus within their rights to continue hearing the case.  The next hearing is scheduled for October 25.

  (Source: AICC India)

• Christian Children's Worker Arrested in India

  A Christian worker in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India was arrested on October 7 for "converting young children from poor Hindu families to Christianity."  The worker, Sunny John runs three schools/children homes in Indore.  He is accused of converting eleven children to Christianity.  John denies the charges, stating that the children had not converted to Christianity nor had they complained of anyone attempting to convert them.

  For more details on the persecution facing Indian Christians,click here.

  Pray that the case against Sunny John will be dropped.  Pray that those bringing the charges against him will see the love of Christ reflected in Sunny.  Pray for the continued ministry of these schools in reaching out to many children in the area.

  (Source: Hindustan Times, Daily Pioneer, Compass Direct)

• Important Indian Court Case to Be Heard On October 18

  A case fighting for the rights of Christians belonging to the lowest caste people in India, the Dalits, is scheduled to be heard by India's Supreme Court on October 18.  If successful, Dalit Christians will be recognized to have the same legal rights as Dalits who are Hindus, Sikhs or Buddhists.

  (Source: Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin)

• Assaulted Christians Pressured

  On May 25, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on eleven Christian families who were intimidated and assaulted in the village of Jamanya in the Indian state of Maharashtra when they refused to deny their faith in Jesus Christ (click here for more information).  Pressure is continuing against them from the village court as well as from individual Hindu militants in the village.  One man, Saimal Mohan Singh Barela, has fled with his family in fear for his life after being attacked on September 23.

  (Source: Compass Direct)

• Christians Face Conversion Charges

  A pastor and eight other church members in the Durg district of Chattisgarh are on trial for disrupting the peace.  They are being accused of attempting to convert Hindu villagers to the Christian faith with offers of money.  On September 26, the nine appeared before a judge of the Durg District Court.  The judge offered to drop all charges if they agreed to stop their activities. They refused to do and pleaded their innocence. The next hearing is scheduled for November 28.

  (Source: Compass Direct)

• Police Beat Christians

  On September 25, a prayer meeting at a home in Maloud, Mukhtsar district in Punjab was disrupted by a mob that included members of the militant Hindu organization, Bajrang Dal.  When police were called, four Christians were taken to the police station for their "protection." Once there, however, they were repeatedly assaulted by Hukum Chand Sharma, the assistant sub-inspector, who was drunk at the time.  Two of the men remain in hospital with serious injuries.

  (Source: Compass Direct)

• Christian Compound in India Attacked a Second Time

  For the second time in a month, Hindu militants attacked a Christian compound in the village of Sikaria in Bihar State, India on September 25.  Several of the staff were brutally beaten in the attack.  One man received spinal injuries that left him partially paralyzed.  According to a September 26 report from Compass Direct, as many as 800 people joined the mob.  Several were a part of an earlier attack on August 31 (click here for details on the previous attack).

  The compound is administered by Gospel Echoing Missionary Society (GEMS).  Around 100 families with a total of 900 children live in the compound.  The services provided by the compound include a school, a student hostel, an orphanage and a hospital.

  Pray for a peaceful resolution to this ongoing problem.  Pray for protection for those in the compound.  Pray that the authorities will take action to provide needed protection.

  For more information on persecution in India,click here.

• Christian Compound in India Under Siege

  Hundreds of Hindus surrounded a Christian compound in the village of Sikaria in Bihar, India on August 31.  They demanded the arrest of Rev. Augustine Jebakumar, director of the Gospel Echoing Missionary Society (GEMS) compound.  The crowds remained for three days until police succumbed to pressure and arrested Rev. Jebakumar.

  The incident began when a group of young people were passing by the compound in a religious procession. Jebakumar asked them to turn down the volume of their loudspeakers, since students were studying inside.  The young people proceeded to attack Jebakumar and others who came to his rescue.  Several Christians were injured. Two required hospitalization.  Someone in the mob managed to disconnect the power to the compound and, in the confusion and dark, an idol that was being carried in the Hindu procession was broken.  The mob claimed that Jebakumar was responsible and demanded that he be arrested for desecrating the idol.  As word of the incident spread, hundreds of Hindus joined in demanding Jebakumar's arrest.  Inside the compound were around 100 families and 900 children.

  On the afternoon of September 3, police arrested Jebakumar, holding him for several hours before releasing him.  Following his arrest, the crowds dissipated and the tension appears to have abated.  According to GEMS, this is the fourth such incident.

  A representative of GEMS requests prayer that everything will return to normal as soon as possible.  Pray that the violence will not restart with the return of Rev. Jebakumar.

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