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India

• Persecution Over Christmas

  

  In areas throughout India, as well as Burma, Christmas was not a season of peace and joy. Christians faced violence and resulting injuries, as those opposed to the message of Christ stoned, slashed and terrorized local believers.

  In the Kanta Kawn Township of Central Burma, 27 Christians had gathered together in a home for a Christmas service on December 17th. As they prayed, villagers surrounded the house and began throwing stones. They then broke into the house to vandalize it. Along with causing damages to the home, motorbikes, furniture and dishes, the perpetrator injured six of the worshippers.

• Persecution Over Christmas

  

  In areas throughout India, as well as Burma, Christmas was not a season of peace and joy. Christians faced violence and resulting injuries, as those opposed to the message of Christ stoned, slashed and terrorized local believers.

  In the Kanta Kawn Township of Central Burma, 27 Christians had gathered together in a home for a Christmas service on December 17th. As they prayed, villagers surrounded the house and began throwing stones. They then broke into the house to vandalize it. Along with causing damages to the home, motorbikes, furniture and dishes, the perpetrator injured six of the worshippers.

• New Attacks Signify Growth

  

  According to Christian leaders in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, a significant increase in attacks on Christians is part of a planned campaign by Hindu nationalist leaders.

  According to the leader of a church planting network, an average of four or five churches are attacked every day, and the number of arrests of Christians is unprecedented. In addition, the offices of some Christian organizations have also been attacked.

• Increasing Persecution from Multiple Groups

  

  Christians in India have frequently faced opposition from neighbours as well as authorities. A growth in Hindu nationalism has exacerbated the problem. In recent months, however, attacks on Christians in northern India have spiked even higher, often instilling fear in congregations within the area.

• Hundreds Charged for "Misinformation about Hinduism"

  

  Charges have been laid against 271 Christians after a complaint was made by a Hindu activist group. According to the accusations, members of the Pentecostal church in the Jaunpur region of Uttar Pradesh state were allegedly spreading lies about Hinduism and attempting to convert people to Christianity during their services. Allegations were also made that the members were drugging people to forcefully convert them.

• No Remorse Shown Ten Years After Massacre

  

  When Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was murdered on August 23rd, 2008, rumours were started that this was a Christian conspiracy. Hindu militants stirred up mobs, creating a horrific massacre in the Kandhamal region of Odisha state (then named Orissa). The violence continued for seven weeks, killing at least 91 victims. Hundreds of villages were looted, over 5,000 houses and 300 churches destroyed, and 56,000 Christians were forced to flee -- often ending up in refugee camps. More details on the 2008 attack, including numerous reports and videos, are available at our India Country Report.

• Church Attendance Dwindling in the Face of Threats

  

  Prior to May of this year, Pastor Singh's congregation in Jhabua, located in rural Madhya Pradesh state, numbered more than 200. Faced with increasing threats from militant Hindus, several families have stopped attending in recent months -- to the point that attendance is now down to about 50 or 60 people.

• Falsely Accused Christians Released

  

  Four Christians in Jharkhand have been imprisoned since May, following an accusation made by the father of one of these believers that they had attempted to physically force him to convert to Christianity. According to the police report, Somaru Manjhi's daughter, Sumanti, was to be married on May 30th. Opposing his daughter's desire for a Christian wedding, the 65-year-old man claimed that he was beaten with a bamboo stick by Sumanti, her fiancé Rupash, and two Christian missionaries.

• Plans of Weekly Church Closures

  

  Christians residing in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra state have been warned by fellow villagers of the intent to close one church every week. Since June, more than a dozen homes belonging to Christians have been attacked across five villages.

  The believers have been told that, unless they renounce their faith, the water supply will be cut off and food subsidies will be stopped. In a recent incident that took place on August 5th, Gallu Kowasi was badly beaten in the village of Kospundi by locals who were demanding that he abandon his faith. Several others have faced threats of death or expulsion.

• Prayer Meeting Attacked; Twenty Injured

  

  Twenty Christians were seriously injured after a mob stormed the prayer meeting they attended. According to local reports, more than 150 believers were gathered together on July 2nd when 25 Hindu villagers attacked them, beating them with wooden rods. When the mayhem finally concluded, 20 Christians were severely injured; some with broken bones. Ten motorcycles were also damaged, along with furniture and musical instruments.