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India

• UPDATE: Forcible Conversion Allegations Dismissed

  Last week, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on accusations of forcible conversions leveled against Christians in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (click here for more details).  According to a July 28 report from AsiaNews, a panel set up to investigate the allegations has shown them to be completely false.  Hindu leaders in the area told the panel that the tribal people in the area have been drawn to Christianity because of the care they receive and not because of coercion.  A local leader of the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Pintoo Jaiswal, told the panel that the missionaries "embraced" the tribal people when Hindus were hesitant to even touch them.  Jaiswal sends his own children to a Christian school and reports there have been no attempts to convert them.

• Christians Face Increasing Difficulties in Madhya Pradesh

  The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is one of several with legislation restricting religious conversions.  This legislation has led to arrests and mob violence in areas throughout India.  According to a July 26 report from Compass Direct, government officials from Madhya Pradesh are considering amendments to its present legislation to check the increasing numbers of tribal people converting to Christianity.

  Three incidents in the past week demonstrate the difficulties facing Christians because of this legislation.  On July 20, a couple in Jeet Nagar village were charged with trying to convert poor Hindus to Christianity by offering inducements.  According to a report in the Hindustan Times, members of the Hindu organization Jagaran Manch claim that Gracy Naik and her husband Jagdish are offering food, medicine and free education as an inducement for people to convert to Christianity.

  On July 21, Father P.T. Thomas, director of St. Michael's Catholic School in the Jhabua district in western Madhya Pradesh, was arrested under the "Freedom of Religion Act."  It is alleged that he was abetting conversion to Christianity by offering reduced school fees to Christians.  He has been released on bail.  A recent report claims that the number of Christians in the Jhagua district has increased by eighty percent in the past twenty years.

  In Gandhi Nagar in the Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh, members of the militant Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh stormed a pastor's retreat on July 23 and asked tribal participants why they were attending.  As a result of this intrusion, police and media representatives investigated the conference and accused the organizers of encouraging forced conversions.  No arrests have been made in this incident.

  Continue to pray for Christian ministries in India as they endeavour to serve the needs of the Indian people under increasing pressure.

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

• Villagers in India Lock Church Building and Expel Pastor

  A church building in the village of Murichambedu in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has been locked by villagers angry because many people have been coming to Christ through the work of a local pastor named Steven (45).  According to the July 13 edition of the Tamil newspaper Dinamalar, Steven, his wife Annammal and their two children moved to the village two years ago and began leading villagers to the Lord.  The newspaper reported that he "started spreading his tentacles to neighbouring villages" as well. So many people converted to Christianity that local Hindu rituals and festivals began to suffer.  Angered by this, Hindus in the village asked him to cease his "proselytizing activities."  When Steven ignored their request, some of the villagers locked the church building and drove Steven and his family from the village.  Steven has registered a complaint with the police in nearby Mijur.  The police inspector has begun meetings with the villagers to negotiate peace.

  Pray that the ministry of Pastor Steven and other Christians in the area around Murichambedu will continue, despite this opposition.  Pray for safety for Steven and his family.  Pray that those opposing the Gospel will come to see the love of Christ and respond to Him.

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

• Hindu Militant Arrested for Murder of Indian Pastors

  Police have arrested one man and are searching for two others responsible for the deaths of two Indian pastors in recent weeks.  On May 21, the body of Pastor K. Daniel was found on the outskirts of Hyderabad.  On June 2, Pastor Isaac Raju was also found murdered (for more details, click here).  Police interrogated members of various militant Hindu groups in connection with the murder before arresting Goverdhan, a member of Hindu Vahini (Hindu Army). 

  According to news reports, Goverdhan and his accomplices, Satyanarayana and Ganesh, were emboldened to commit the murders after the Orissa High Court commuted the death sentence of

  Jeep where Graham Staines was burned to death in 1999

  Dara Singh to life imprisonment.  Singh was convicted of the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons.  A close relative of Goverdhan is reported to have converted to Christianity and they wanted to stop further evangelistic activities.

  Continue to pray for the families and friends of these murdered pastors.  Pray also for those responsible for the killings, that they will find the mercy and grace of God and will turn to Him.

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

• Kashmiri Woman Escapes Her Kidnappers Twice

  Nargis (22) is a Christian worker in the predominantly Muslim area of Kashmir, India.  According to Asia Harvest, she was kidnapped five weeks ago.  When her friends heard no news from her, they began to fear for the worst.  On June 8, however, coworkers received a phone call from her saying she had managed to escape.  She said that her captors had produced false documents claiming she had married one of them.  She gave them her location.  Her family rushed to get her, only to find out that she had been captured again.  Ten days later, the family received notice that she had escaped for a second time and was making her way to a safe location.

  Pray that she will be safe from her attackers.  Pray for her physical, emotional and mental healing.

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

• Indian Militants Disrupt Church Service; Christians Charged

  Sunday worship services were suddenly disrupted on June 6 when approximately 200 armed Hindu militants stormed a church in Moti Chowk village in Chhattisgarh, India.  Reports indicate that they were accompanied by two police officers when they entered the church.  According to a June 9 report from Compass Direct, the mob physically assaulted Pastor Jaichand Dongre and other church members.  Eyewitnesses said that the police officers slapped the pastor several times and attempted to humiliate him.  The mob looted the church and took Bibles, Christian literature and musical instruments.  Astonishingly, nine church members were then taken to the local police station and charged with disturbing the peace.  The police refused to intervene when the rabble slapped the pastor on his way to the police station.

  When a representative of the Minority Commission contacted the police station, he was initially told that the nine were charged because of conversion activities and that they deserved what they got.  Those arrested were held for two days before being released on bail.  Since then, the situation in the village has remained tense.  Christians are being refused access to the village well and the local markets as activists ordered a social boycott.

  Pray for these and other Christians in India facing social and legal difficulties because of their faith in Christ.  Pray that the charges will be dropped and that political pressure will come to bear on local officials who endeavour to stop the spread of the Gospel through violence and persecution.

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

• Americans Beaten and Expelled from India

  Four Americans participating in a Bible reading session in Mumbai, India were attacked by 30-40 Hindu youths on July 11 because they believed the Americans were trying to convert Hindus.  Three of those attacked were treated for cuts and bruises but were not seriously hurt. While investigating the incident, officials decided that the Americans were in violation of their visitor's visa and ordered their deportation.  One official stated, "There is something fishy about their visit which needs to be probed further."  One of the four Americans, Philip Allan, had a multiple-entry visa and had frequently visited India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.  Local Christian leaders, however, deny that the Americans had violated their visa conditions.  They assert that the Bible reading session they were attending was a private function.

  Pray that the ministry of the Church in India will not be adversely affected because of this incident.  Pray that those responsible for this attack will see the love and grace of Christ in the lives of Christians around them and will come to faith in Christ.

  For more information on the situation facing the Indian Church,click here.

• Two Indian Pastors Face Death in the Past Month

  On May 21, the body of Pastor K. Daniel from Kummarvadi, a village on the outskirts of Hyderabad was found with marks indicating he had suffered from an acid attack. Three days later, another pastor from the outskirts of Hyderabad also went missing.  According to a June 6 report from Compass Direct, the body of Pastor Isaac Raju was discovered wrapped in a jute bag behind bushes on June 2.  It is reported that police received an anonymous phone call giving the location of Raju's body. It would appear that both men were lured to their deaths by someone asking to meet with them to discuss their availability to conduct a wedding ceremony.

  An unknown group calling themselves the "Anti-Christian Forum" is claiming responsibility for the attacks.  Police have questioned over 150 members of local militant Hindu groups in an effort to find those responsible.  A notice has been posted in "The Hindu" newspaper offering a reward for the capture of those responsible for the attacks.

  Pray that those responsible for these attacks will be found.  Pray for peace, comfort and wisdom for other pastors in the area who are facing the possibility of an organized attack against pastors.  Pray for strength and comfort for the families of those who have been killed.

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

• India Update: Attack on Church in Lamding

  For the fourth time in seven months, the Believer's Church in the village of Lamding was attacked by unknown gunmen.  On the evening of May 29, a group of thirty missionaries and church workers were at the church because the pastor, Rev. S. Prim Vaiphei, had received notice that the church was to be attacked that evening.  A jeep slowly approached the church around 11:00 p.m.  When the Christians turned on their flashlights to see who was in the vehicle, gunfire erupted.  As many as forty shots were fired. Thankfully no one was seriously injured.  The church had been previously attacked on November 23, March 9 and April 19 (click here). 

• Indian Mission Accused of Forcible Conversions

  Seven staff members of the ATMIK Vikas Trust (AVT) mission in Uttar Pradesh, India are under police investigation following accusations from a group of former employees.  According to a May 31 report from Compass Direct, the former employees claim they each gave the mission a deposit 20,000 rupees ($575 Cdn) when they signed up for a training program.  They claim that the staff at the mission converted them under the guise of finding them jobs.  When the group lost their jobs in November 2004, they allege that they were beaten and threatened with death when they requested their deposit back. 

  One of the accused denies that money was ever received. Another defendant, M.M. Philip, told Compass, "This is simply an expression of frustration by our ex-employees. We provide Biblical teachings and focus on the personal transformation of a trainee, but some come in with false expectations. They think they will get a job and money, and when such expectations are not met, they think they have been wronged."

  The seven have been accused of criminal breach of trust, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation.  If convicted, they could face imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine or both.

  Pray that the truth will come out in this case.  Pray for the continued ministry of AVT.  Pray for strength, wisdom and courage for each of those accused.

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