India: More churches attacked by Hindu extremists
Hindu extremists were behind a number of attacks on churches across states in India during the last month, reports Compass Direct News.
In Uttarakhand, Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal on 25 October disrupted the Sunday worship of a Ministry of the Gospel service in Rudrapur and accused the pastor of forceful conversion.
The Evangelical Fellowship of India reported that the extremists barged into the worship service led by Pastor Victor Massey, tore Bibles and took all Christian literature. They threatened to attack again if the congregation continued to meet for worship, adding that they would force Hindu rituals on them.
Ministry of the Gospel leader S K Puri told Compass that church officials reported the matter to the district collector and superintendent of police, but when Hindu nationalists heard about the complaint they accosted Pastor Massey on 30 October and again threatened to force Hindu rituals on the congregation. Christian leaders have asked local authorities to provide police protection.
On the same day, 25 October, a mob of about 50 Hindu extremists attacked a church in Karnataka, burning Bibles and Christian literature. The Evangelical Fellowship of India reported that at about 11 am the Hindu hardliners barged into the prayer meeting of Assembly of God Church and dragged out Pastor David Raj. The attack reportedly began after an unidentified man in attendance repeatedly went in and out of the church building; he was requested to remain sitting so as not to disturb the sermon.
The man left and returned with 50 extremists, led by area Bajrang Dal leader Jayathirtha Kati. After the Hindu extremists verbally abused the church members, set fire to the Christian literature and dragged the pastor out to the street, local police arrived and, as is customary in India, detained the victims.
They took the pastor, his wife and two church members to the police station and only with local Christian leaders’ intervention were the Christians released at about 5 p.m. – MS
Earlier in October, Hindu extremists and the head of Dayung village in Assam called a meeting to oppose a Christian ministry after a young woman who became a Christian refused to renounce her faith, a source told Compass.
Tara Sabha’s family beat and disowned her after she told the village council that she would not leave Christianity at any cost, the source said. Sabha had received Christ earlier in October.
The source told Compass that Hindu extremists held Enosh Lepcha of First Evangelical Church Association of India (FECAI) responsible for the conversion, and on 23 October they and the village head called a public meeting in which they threatened a social boycott if the ministry continued its activities. FECAI’s Abbay Pradhan told Compass that due to extremist pressure, the ministry has stopped many activities.
