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India

• Pastor Repeatedly Beaten

  

  Pastor Jai Singh was part of a house church that had gathered for worship on January 5th in the village of Bichpari when a mob of 250 to 300 people surrounded the home. He was dragged to a school where he was beaten multiple times by different groups of people before being driven to a Hindu temple and forced to sit in front of idols. By the time the abuse was finished, his garment was covered in blood. After the assault, the perpetrators took Pastor Jai to a police station where he was left in severe pain.

  Police took him to a hospital for treatment and then brought him back to the station where he, along with the owner of the house church meeting and other participants, were charged for allegedly offering money to convert people to Christianity. The pastor remained in custody until bail was granted two days later.

• "Illegal Practice of Medicine" Charges for Praying

  

  Three Christians were arrested in the village of Vadi in Madhya Pradesh on December 16th after fellow villagers accused them of practising illegal medicine. They spent 11 days in jail before being released on bail. Pastor Mukam Kiraad, along with two members of his church, Lalsingh Tomar and Nanliya Rawat, were shocked to learn they were charged with medical malpractice after praying for physical healing.

• Religious Freedoms at Risk

   

  

  As militant Hinduism takes control of local, state and federal governments in India, concerns about religious freedom have been increasing. Though India is officially secular and the world's most populous democracy, Hindu nationalism remains strong. New legislation and polices have highlighted the challenges.

• Pastor Faces Charges After Being Beaten

  

  A pastor and his family are facing police charges after Hindu militants beat them, leaving the pastor for dead. Eight assailants, including a police officer, entered the family home in Parihara, Jharkhand in the early morning of November 12th. Others joined in, beating members of the family with an axe, bamboo rods and wooden sticks. Pastor Basant Kumar Paul, who was left unconscious, sustained serious injuries all over his body. Both his mother and brother encountered head injuries, and his wife suffered internal injuries. In addition, the pastoring couple's 20-year-old son required a knee transplant.

• Five Released from Prison

   

  

  In 2008, the Indian state of Odisha (formerly known as Orissa) erupted in religious violence after the assassination of a popular Hindu swami. Though Maoist rebels claimed responsibility, blame was quickly placed on Christians in the area. In the days and weeks that followed, hundreds of Christians were massacred and thousands displaced due to mob violence. Over the years, the Voice of the Martyrs Canada has been providing support for many children whose parents were killed in the attacks.

• House Churches Under Surveillance to Prevent Worship

  

  Police in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu have put several house churches under surveillance in an effort to prevent their use for Christian worship. House church congregations in several villages were warned to stop meeting altogether. Pastors of these small gatherings have been harassed and ordered to get permission from district officials in order to conduct prayer services.

• Police Shut Down Outdoor Worship Services

  

  Police broke up a worship gathering of approximately 6,000 Christians on October 15th after Hindu militants accused the pastor of insulting other religions, possession of arms, and forcible conversions. According to Pastor Santosh Jaiswal, the congregation scattered when police arrived with demands that the service cease.

  The officers investigating the allegations were unable to find any evidence against the pastor but ordered that Pastor Santosh stop the worship services. According to police, an eyewitness had seen people claiming to be healed and others lifting their hands in prayer, interpreting what was happening as black magic.

• Pastor's Family Forced into Hiding

  

  A retired pastor and his family in northern India have been badly beaten and forced into hiding after police recently sided with their attackers. Patram Mangala helps with a Christian school in Sohna, Haryana state.

  Patram and his wife were working in their front yard on September 22nd when a group of Hindu militants approached and began assaulting them. Patram was hit in the face with a spade. His wife sustained internal injuries, as well as a blow to her face. Their son Abhishek lost four front teeth and sustained injury to one eye, while their other son Raj received internal injuries.

• New Anti-Conversion Legislation

  

  The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh passed new legislation on August 30th to prevent any religious conversion that may come about through force, fraud or inducement. According to the new law, when someone intends to convert to a religion, they must give the district magistrate and appropriate religious leaders one month's notice. Those found guilty of converting others under the new law could face up to seven years in prison.

• Released After Ten Years

  

  Bijaya Kumar Sanaseth was convicted of the murder of a popular Hindu swami in 2008, along with six other Christians. The conviction came despite claims of responsibility by Maoist rebels. In a July 27th decision, India's Supreme Court ordered Bijaya's release, just months after another one of the accused believers, Gornath Chalanseth, was likewise freed on bail. (See the previously posted report.)