On 25th February, 2007 a mob of 70-80 Hindu extremists belonging to Bajrang Dal surrounded the house of Pastor T.N. Jose at around 7 p.m. in Surgi village of Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. The pastor was manhandled and threatened for life by this mob. The incident took place just as the pastor had sat down for his daily evening prayer.
It is said that the pastor had been given an ultimatum to leave the village accusing him of forcefully converting villagers.
The mob made him put his signature on a plain paper stating that the pastor had come to the village to convert and that he would go from the village of his own free will. The paper also stated that the pastor was not being forced by anyone to leave the village.
Pastor T.N. Jose who is fearing for his life has taken shelter in his brother Pastor T. M. Babu’s house close to the village in Rajnandgaon. Pastor Babu also runs a Bible School under the banner of Indian Christian Mission which is a registered trust.
It must be noted here that the pastor’s sister, a doctor by profession who runs a clinic in Surgi village was also threatened and locked up by the extremists for one whole day. However, she was released in the evening after which she ran through the jungle at night despite the dangers, to reach an area housing a factory which served as a landmark for her brother to pick her up and take her to safety in their brother’s house.
It is said that the pastor had been given an ultimatum to leave the village accusing him of forcefully converting villagers.
The mob made him put his signature on a plain paper stating that the pastor had come to the village to convert and that he would go from the village of his own free will. The paper also stated that the pastor was not being forced by anyone to leave the village.
Pastor T.N. Jose who is fearing for his life has taken shelter in his brother Pastor T. M. Babu’s house close to the village in Rajnandgaon. Pastor Babu also runs a Bible School under the banner of Indian Christian Mission which is a registered trust.
It must be noted here that the pastor’s sister, a doctor by profession who runs a clinic in Surgi village was also threatened and locked up by the extremists for one whole day. However, she was released in the evening after which she ran through the jungle at night despite the dangers, to reach an area housing a factory which served as a landmark for her brother to pick her up and take her to safety in their brother’s house.
