Christians Injured in Attack on Prayer Meeting in India

Six Christians were severely injured in a recent attack by Hindu radicals on a small prayer gathering in India’s Uttar Pradesh state. The assault took place as about 40 Christians gathered at a pastor’s home in Chapar village, located in the Sultanpur District, last Thursday, February 7.

According to a report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), 25 Hindu radicals attacked the prayer meeting and subjected the Christians gathered to verbal abuse and physical assault. As a result, Bibles and other church properties were damaged and six Christians needed to seek medical attention. The radicals went on to threaten to kill the Christians if they continued to gather for worship.

Local Christians are attempting to register a First Information Report (FIR) against the radicals, but so far local police have been reluctant to open an investigation.

Attacks on Christians and their places of worship have come under increasing attack in recent years. Hindu radicals often use false reports of forced conversions to Christianity or blasphemy to justify their attacks on Christians. In recent years, local authorities have been more willing to accept these often false narratives.

Click here for source

Church in India’s Chhattisgarh State Vandalized by Radicals

On Sunday, January 27, Calvary Gospel Ministry Church, located in Shantipur village in India’s Chhattisgarh state, was attacked by a mob of suspected Hindu radicals. As a result of the attack, the church was vandalized and several members were left injured.

The attack started at approximately 9:30 a.m. as the regular Sunday service was being led by Pastor Ajay Ravi. Around 30 suspected radicals surrounded the small church and began shouting at the 25 believers who had gathered for worship. According to Pastor Ravi, the radicals accused the Christians of insulting their gods and goddesses.

After some time, the radicals demanded that the Christians come out of the church. When the Christians obeyed, they were assaulted with sticks and fists. Ten Christians, including women, were terribly beaten by the radicals. In addition, two bibles were torn to pieces, three musical instruments were damaged, and a motorbike was destroyed.

When police were called to the scene, they suggested the assaulted Christians come to a compromise with their assailants. When the Christians refused, the police refused to register a complaint on behalf of the Christians and threatened to throw them in jail. To date, no criminal complaint has been registered against the radicals by police in Shantipur village.

“I know that I should love my enemies and pray for those who persecute us,” Pastor Ravi told International Christian Concern (ICC). “But God forgives those who confess their sins before him. Unless [the radicals] are convicted of the sin of vandalizing the church, it is not rational to compromise with the persecutors.”

20 Indian Christians hurt in attack on prayer meeting in Uttar Pradesh

Twenty Christians have been injured in an assault on a prayer meeting in India's Uttar Pradesh state, according to International Christian Concern.

Local reports say 35 Hindu radicals stormed a prayer meeting in Raikashipur village as more than 150 Christians met for prayer.

The attack took place on July 2, according to ICC, when the mob arrived at the prayer meeting in several vehicles and beat the participants with sticks. They also fired a gun into the air.

As well as injuring people they destroyed furniture and musical instruments.

Ram Kumar Gautam (42) has led the village prayer meetings in a makeshift shed for the last five years and told ICC that on average around 300 people participate.

'I didn't sleep or eat properly for nearly a week now,' he said. 'The attack on our prayer meeting last Monday has had devastating consequences. Many have serious injuries with their limbs being broken. Also, a false case was booked against six of us under stringent IPC [Indian Penal Code] sections.'

The charges relate to riot and assault, and to 'Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.'

Gautam said: 'We peacefully conduct prayers every Monday and people voluntarily attend these prayers. We don't even talk about conversions, but I am accused of converting people. People come to our prayer and get healing. That's why people choose to regularly attend the prayers.'

William Stark, ICC's regional manager, said: 'Article 25 of India's constitution says that every individual has the right to freely profess, practise and propagate the religion of their choice. For more than 150 Christians, this right was violated last Monday when Hindu radicals assaulted them for merely practising their faith.

'India's authorities must bring these 35 Hindu radicals in Raikashipur to justice. Until then, India's religious freedom rights will remain only words on paper and attacks on Christians and other religious minorities will continue to rise in both number and severity.'

Click here for source

Christian prayer homes attacked in Madurai

Madurai: Radical Hindu activists alleged attacked prayer homes of Pentecostal Christians at two places in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Police quoted Pastor Ravi Jacob, who lodged a complaint, that Hindu Munnani (front) activists on March 11 burnt some pamphlets and copies of the Bible and abused pastors and the faithful at Koodal Nagar and Sikandar Chavadi areas.

Jacob alleged that 10 people came to his house that day, took away copies of the Bible and damaged them.

A clip of the group reportedly threatening the people has gone viral.

A case was registered two days later against 10 Hindu activists, including three who were identified.

The Police said some activists, during initial questioning, denied that they had attacked the homes and had only staged protests against people being allegedly lured for conversion.

The activists said the complaint was a ploy so that some organizations could continue their “illegal conversions.”

Police said they had received complaints from the public that some prayer homes were being running illegally, demanding that these be closed.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Latin Bishops’ Council had condemned the attacks and said it was an effort to “chase away” Christians who had a fundamental right to worship.

This was not a law and order problem, but denial of right to worship and destruction of secularism, the Constitution and democracy, Council president Bishop Anthony Pappusamy said in a statement.

Click here for source 

Indian policeman joins 50-strong Hindu mob’s attack on churches

A Hindu mob raided five churches in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu yesterday (11 March), attacking and abusing Christians as they worshipped. Several women were stripped and beaten.

The attackers, who according to witnesses were accompanied by a state-provided police officer, were part of Hindu Munnani, a Tamil Nadu-based organisation formed to defend Hinduism.

Still from video of Venkatesh, shouting abuse at Pastor Jagatheesan

The Hindu Munnani District Secretary, Thangam Venkatesh, led the mob, which began its raids early in the morning.

“At about 9am, Venkatesh went to the prayer hall and abused the pastor, Ravi Jacob. He used extremely vulgar language, and then turned on his wife, Persis,” John J.Y. Arul, Chairman of Madurai District Pastors’ Fellowship, told World Watch Monitor.

“The extremists were aggressive and uncontrollable. In front of children and others in the church, they savagely beat up Jacob and Persis. They removed Persis’ saree and repeatedly kicked her in the face,” Arul said.

“I can’t repeat the words they used against Persis. We were shocked by their inhuman behaviour.

“When Persis was crying for help, the police guard with the Munnani leader asked her to ‘prostrate herself at the feet of Thangam Venkatesh and plead for his forgiveness’.

“Persis’ face was swollen and she had to be rushed to hospital.”

The mob also burnt Christian literature, including Bibles.

“The same Hindu Munnani men went to four other churches in the district,” Arul said.

At about 10am the mob went to the Bethesda Worship Centre, where they stripped and attacked three women. Two of the women, Maariyammal, 40, and Annal, 51, were sexually assaulted. A third, Bava Dhaarani, 23, was slapped and punched. Maariyammal tried to lodge a complaint with the police, but she was told police could “only take one complaint per church” and the church pastor had already made a complaint.

The mob told Bethseda’s pastor, Jerome Jagatheesan, “you will be brutally murdered in five days”.

“Their language was filthy,” Jagatheesan told World Watch Monitor. “They called me a woman, saying if I was a man I would not serve Christ. They bullied me, calling me pottai, pottai. It is an offensive word in the Tamil language, used against transgender people and homosexuals.”

Activists in the mob said to Jagatheesan: “If you are a man, why did you convert? Why did you change your god? You are a homosexual who gives his wife to adultery.”

Jagatheesan said: “Their words were brutish. Had I uttered a single word they would have attacked us the same way sister Persis was attacked. They showed no mercy.”

The activists also said to Jagatheesan: “If you want to serve Jesus Christ, go to Bethlehem or the Vatican. Worship him there. Why do you want to make India impure?”

At the church the mob shouted threats to a 19-year-old named James, whose father, Emmanuel, leads another church. The activists called out: “If we continue gathering for Sunday worship and prayers, it will be my dad’s turn next,” James said.

“[Hindu nationalists] are ruling in the centre, it is their government. We Christians are helpless,” he added.

Another pastor, Sagi Sugathia, said the mob “are at least 25 in number and very violent. Our church services had to be stopped because of Thangam Venkatesh and his men”.

Complaints to the police

Later in the day complaints were made at Koodal Pudur and Alanganallur police stations, but police refused to register the case. Koodal Pudur police issued a Community Service Register (CSR) receipt in which they did not reveal the identity of Thangam Venkatesh and the Hindu Munnani workers.

The CSR receipt, filed on the complaint made by Jerome Jagatheesan, said: “Twenty-five unknown miscreants or unidentified people have attacked the Christians.”

Some 200 pastors later demanded that a First Information Report (a victim or witness statement made to police to trigger further investigation) was filed against the Hindu Munnani activists.

A Facebook account in the name of Thangam Venkatesh posted updates on yesterday’s attacks, including a video of Venkatesh shouting abuse at Jagatheesan.

Click here for source 

Miscreant attacks Tumakuru church, Christians plan protests

TUMAKURU:  A church in Tumakuru was attacked by an unidentified man early on Thursday morning.
The miscreant targetted Tomlinson Church on the Union Christian College (UCC) campus in Saadepura, a place of worship for Protestant Christians of the Church of South India (CSI), Karnataka Central Diocese.
CCTV images showed a man wearing track pants throwing a bottle filled with petrol and setting the wooden door of the church on fire around 4 am.
In the footage, he is seen anxiously checking for the presence of people in the vicinity.
Saadepura area is a residential hub of Christian community. Anook, who resides on the campus, noticed the fire. He rushed to the spot and extinguished it.
Tumakuru Deputy Commissioner K P Mohanraj, who visited the church, termed the incident as unfortunate and said the administration would ensure safety of all places of worship.
Superintendent of Police Karthik Reddy told Express that the police will nab the accused within 48 hours. Five teams led by police inspectors will investigate the case, he said.
Central Range IGP Seemanth Kumar Singh visited the spot and took stock of the situation.
As the news about the attack spread like wild fire, city MLA Rafeek Ahmed, MP S P Muddahanume Gowda, former minister Sogadu Shivanna and others visited the church.
The incident occurred at a place where residential quarters of all top bureaucrats, including the DC, the SP and the ZP CEO, are located.  The community leaders have ruled out the act of a person within the community.
Community members angry
The Tomlinson Church holds elections once in two years to elect 10 members to the Pastorate Committee and the polls were held a year ago, they said.  “Once the elections are over we forget our differences and assemble for the masses,” they clarified.
Meanwhile, the incident united all sections of the Christian community, including Protestants, Catholics and other denominations. Headed by CSI area chairman Samuel Pujary, they held a meeting in the evening.
They took a decision to hold a day-long hunger strike at the Town Hall Circle here on Friday. On Monday, they will hold a rally and people from Chikballapur, Dodballapur, Gouribidanur and Bengaluru are expected to attend, sources said.
“Our only demand is to arrest the culprit and give protection to the community,” said Jeevaratna, an elderly person of the community.
The 86-year-old church is said to be one of the rarest ones in the country as its architecture is a mix of Hoysala and Chola traditions, observed John Sureshbabu, another community leader.

Church vandalized, pastor attacked in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: Two unidentified persons on Sunday barged into a Protestant church and thrashed the pastor and his pregnant wife in a central Indian state.

The Times of India called the attackers “goons” and described the incident as another case of vandalization of church in Chhattisgarh’s troubled Bastar region.

The church is located at Tokapal area.

Arun Pannalal, president of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, said the intruders poured petrol and torched the Bible, furniture and other religious material kept inside set the church.

The attackers who were armed with knife, hammer and sword, forced the pastor and his wife to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and then poured petrol on them as well.

The goons manhandled the pastor’s children and destroyed mike set, gifts and tables. 

They also tried to set ablaze pastor’s house. The family ran out for life.

Later, the matter was reported to police who deployed security at the spot throughout the night.

Pannalal said the pastor’s wife was seven months pregnant.

A case was lodged at Parpa police station in Bastar and the police in charge Abdul Kadir Khan said that an FIR was registered against the two unidentified persons for creating communal tension and trying to set ablaze the pastor.

Pannalal remarked, “Police registering an FIR against unknown miscreants is laughable. In a small town police is well informed, they are trying to protect the accused. The police officers who have failed to protect our fundamental rights should be suspended immediately and enquired for dereliction of duty.”

Recently in March, a group of 15 men had vandalized a church and manhandled the congregants at Kachna in state capital while a prayer meeting was in progress. Nine persons were then arrested in connection with the case. 

Click here for source 

Now, Bastar church vandalized, pastor & family attacked

In yet another vandalization of church in Chhattisgarh's tribal Bastar region on Sunday evening, "two unidentified" persons barged into a church located at Tokapal area, poured petrol on Holy Bible, furniture and other religious material kept inside and set them ablaze.

According to the FIR, the pastor was assaulted by the goons who allegedly poured petrol on him and threatened to set him ablaze. The goons destroyed mike set, gifts, and tables and manhandled the children of pastor too. They were well-armed men carrying knife, hammer, sword and when they tried to set ablaze pastor's house, the family rushed out and ran for life.

However, Christian organisations alleged that the police tried to downplay the incident. Chhattisgarh Christian Association president Arun Pannalal alleged that pastor Deenanath and his pregnant wife was beaten up, forced to chant "Jai Sri Ram" and then petrol was poured on them, but the couple somehow escaped. Later, the matter was reported to police following which security was deployed at the spot throughout the night.

Parpa police station in-charge Abdul Kadir Khan told TOI that an FIR has been registered against the unidentified persons for creating communal tension and trying to set ablaze the pastor. However, senior police officials, including Bastar district superintendent of police, remained incommunicado throughout the day.

"Tokapal is a very small place where everybody knows everybody. Police registering an FIR against unidentified persons itself is an indication that police is trying to downplay the incident and protect the accused," Christian Association president Arun Pannalal said.

In March 2014, Tokapal block in tribal Bastar region was in news after an aggressive campaign by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had led to a ban on the entry of and propaganda by non-Hindu missionaries, especially Christians. Many gram panchayats in Tokpal block had passed orders under Section 129 (G) of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act banning all "non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers and speeches in the villages."

Recently in March, a group of 15 men had vandalized a church and manhandled the congregants at Kachna in state capital while a prayer meeting was in progress. Nine persons were then arrested in connection with the case.

Click here for source

Christian Forum Releases 'Video' Of Raipur Church Attackers

Within hours of the arrest of nine men today, the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum released a cellphone video to the media, claiming it contained the footage of Sunday's attack on a church in Raipur.

The video shows four men vandalizing furniture, musical instruments and mocking the devotees.

Forum President Arjun Pannalal has claimed around 25 slogan-shouting men of Bajrang Dal had barged into the church premises during a prayer meeting, beaten up men women and children and vandalized the church. Around 65 worshippers were present at the time.

This morning, the police however, claimed the arrested men did not belong to any party or group.

Click here for source

Proof of impunity seen in church robbery, Indian Christian leaders say

A parish church in India's Madhya Pradesh state has been robbed, prompting Church leaders to accuse state authorities of allowing criminals to commit crimes against Christians with impunity.

Thieves used the cover of darkness to break into St. Joseph Church in Ganj Basoda in Sagar diocese Aug. 13 and steal an unspecified amount of cash from the collection box, parish officials said.

“This is the third theft or attempted theft from this church” in less than a year, parish priest Nitish Jacob told ucanews.com on Aug. 16.

The first was on Dec. 3 when thieves entered the presbytery and stole about 100,000 rupees (US$1,500).

A second attempt took place on Feb. 15, but was foiled when people inside presbytery woke up, he said.

Bishop Anthony Chirayath of Sagar bemoaned what he said was a complete lack of police action in trying to stop attacks on Christians in the state, which encourages criminals to commit further acts.

"They [the police] are inactive, and don’t take any action when churches are attacked. They don’t take seriously our complaints. What can we do? It is the duty of the police to investigate and take action against the culprits," he told ucanews.com.

Christians have faced a series of attacks since the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state in December 2003, Church leaders say.

Local police chief R K Bansaldenied denied accusations that the police were doing nothing. He told ucanews.com that his men were investigating the latest case with the help of CCTV footage.

The footage shows the suspect stayed on the premises for almost one hour, he said.
Although the images are unclear, police believe “the robber is a local person who is aware of the workings of the Church," the officer said.

Bishop Chirayath and other Christian leaders say there have been at least 100 attacks on Christians since the BJP came to power 12 years ago, with more than 20 occurring in the last six months.

Not one prosecution has taken place, they say.

"The Church has been continuously denied justice even after proper complaints to the authorities about assaults, attacks and other illegal cases leveled against it and its members, but to date there isn’t a single example in which the administration has acted properly to boost the trust and confidence of the people," State Bishops' Council spokesperson Father Maria Stephen said.

"Since we believe in the rule of law, we are going to meet the district collector [the highest government authority in the district]. We will also approach the courts for protection and safety, if need be," he said.

Click here for source

Christian prayer group attacked in Kerala by RSS and BJP members

Eight persons sustained minor injuries after nearly 50 persons allegedly owing allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked a prayer group at Attingal on Sunday.

The Attingal police said the incident occurred around 12.30 p.m. when the Reaching World with Love Ministry, a Pentecostal group, was holding a prayer meeting at the municipal library hall. The activists marched to the venue raising slogans and accused the group of organising a conversion drive and targeting those belonging to the Hindu faith. The police registered a case against 20 persons.

Click here for source

Tension grips Haryana village after attack on church, 14 booked

The under-construction church in Hisar, Haryana which was attacked on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

---

Tension gripped a village in Haryana's Hisar district on Monday following an attack on an under-construction church.
Police said 14 people were booked for rioting, damaging a place of worship, theft and promoting enmity following a complaint from the church priest in Kaimri village in Hisar district, 260km from Chandigarh. However, no arrests have been made so far.
At a time when the security of Christians has led to a raging debate and incidents of church attacks in Delhi have hogged headlines, miscreants on Sunday vandalised the church and replaced the cross with an idol of Hanuman.
Some media reports said villagers alleged the priest was trying to construct the church despite the fact that there was no Christian in the entire village. Reports also said villagers were angry over the priest's alleged efforts to convert some of the residents.
There are allegations that the priest had bought the piece of land for building a house but started constructing a church instead.
"I was threatened by Bajrang Dal activists and other locals last month," Father Subhash Chand said.
Chand, priest of the Williwarsh Church in the village, alleged that the accused threatened him with dire consequences if he proceeded with the construction.
He said the accused fragmented the cross and installed the statue of Hanuman and a flag depicting Lord Ram. Chand also alleged that the miscreants stole a cooler and some items.
Christian Front, Haryana, condemned the incident and has demanded immediate arrest of the accused, all believed to be residents of Kaimri.
The Haryana attack came against the backdrop of Prime Minister's Narendra Modi's assurance of ensuring religious freedom, in the wake of attacks on churches in the national capital.
Commenting on the Kaimri incident, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) Nalin Kohli said, "Any religious place of worship cannot be treated as an object that people can use to take out their frustration."

Click here for source

Church in Delhi Vandalised 5 Days Before Assembly Elections

New Delhi:  A church was vandalised in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj area today, the fifth such incident since December. This comes just five days before elections in Delhi.

According to the members of St Alphonsa's church, unidentified people jumped in from the main gate wall and broke opened the main gate of the church at around 3 am. They ransacked the sacristy cupboards, opened the tabernacle and took the ciborium and emptied it by putting the hosts on the table, the church members said.

Last month, three people were arrested in a case of vandalising church property in west Delhi's Vikaspuri. The arrests were made on the basis of CCTV footage obtained from the church, the police said. Two out of the three accused are seen on CCTV footage; one man is seen coming to the church window at 4.30 am, and punching at something after a short prayer.

"A clear pattern of orchestrated attacks is emerging as more and more churches are targetted, vandalised and set on fire," Delhi's Archbishop Anil JT Couto said.

But the police said that all the people arrested in connection with the attack did not have any connection with any fringe group.

Earlier in January, a minor fire was reported from a church in Rohini in Outer Delhi. The Christmas crib placed outside the building was completely charred.

In December last year, a church in East Delhi's Dilshad Garden area, the St Sebastian's Church, was burnt down in a fire that the police confirmed was a case of arson. A forensic team found traces of kerosene inside the church premises.

Christian groups had held protests and the matter was raised in Parliament. The Home Minister had ordered a special investigation team to look into the matter.

Click here for source

Pastors arrested in Greater Noida under pressure from Hindu groups

While pastors were questioned at Surajpur police station, various Hindu groups protested outside on Saturday. (Source: Express photo by Gajendra yadav) 

At least 10 Christian pastors were brought in for questioning to Surajpur Police station in Greater Noida on Saturday over allegations that they were “forcefully converting Hindus to Christianity”. Soon after their detention, the police station was surrounded by protesters from various Hindu groups.

Christian community leaders in Greater Noida said allegations of forced conversion had been trumped up and were aimed at creating mistrust in the district.

The Gautam Buddh Nagar police said the 10 pastors were allegedly participating in a fasting ritual, which was not connected to religious conversion, at Kulesra village.

But, SP (Rural) Brijesh Kumar Singh said since they had received complaints from villagers, the matter would be investigated. Police said no FIR had been filed yet.

Meanwhile, protests outside the police station reflected the growing communal tension in the area.

Reverend Wilson Joseph, president of the Calvary Ashram Seva Sangh, has been working in Uttar Pradesh since 1992 and has been in Greater Noida for the past 12 years.

“I have never seen this kind of communal tension. We are not even being able to get close to Surajpur police station. Some members of our church, who went there, were beaten up. We will file a complaint once the mob clears,” he alleged.

Joseph alleged that members of the RSS had incited villagers at Kulesra village through false allegations of forced conversions.
 

Sources indicated that police initially intended to let the pastors go after questioning, but the protests outside the police station made that difficult.

Police denied that the incident had sparked off communal tension in the area. “There were allegations made that these Christian pastors were forcing people to convert. Police brought them in for questioning. We will be investigating the matter,” Singh said.

Police sources said tension had been brewing in the area for the past few months, with rumours doing the rounds that Hindus, especially
Dalits, were being converted forcibly. But, police said they had no evidence to corroborate the rumours.

“The allegations of conversions are primarily regarding the Dalit community, which is the poorest. Many convert because they think that they will be able to escape caste-based biases. Others think that there will be financial benefits of such a conversion,” Singh said.

However, minority activists alleged that rumours of “forced conversions” were being spread with the intent of spreading communal tension to reap political dividends. “Hindu organisations connected to the RSS and VHP are spreading tension based on the propagation of their ideology that Christianity is inherently alien,” John Dayal, civil rights activist, alleged.

Click here for source

Hindu groups convert Church into a Mandir, claim that 72 Christians converted to Hinduism

Click here for video by headlines today. Another video here

Tension prevailed in Asroi area of the district following reports of reconversion of some Christians to Hinduism.

Around 72 christians were reconverted into Valmikis even as Christians alleged foul play by the Hindu organisations, which are raking up 'Love Jihad' and other issues to make the country a 'Hindu Rashtra'.

Not just the 72 Valmikis were reconverted into Hindus from Christians at Asroi village, about 25 km from the Aligarh district headquarters but a 7th Day Adventist church was also converted into a Shiv temple, where these Valmikis used to pray, the report said.

According to reports, these Valmikis converted to Christianity in 1995 and now they have again embraced Hinduism.

The rituals for re-conversion were held inside the church on Tuesday last and all the 72 people were accepted in the Hindu community. a picture of Lord Shiva has been installed inside the church while the Cross was placed outside the boundary wall of the premises. But later as tension rose, the Shiva portrait was removed by the local people following objection by the pastor.

Bajrang Dal leaders of the district claim that this the "home coming" of the Valmikis and not re-conversion as claimed by the media.

"The decision to return to their own faith was appreciable and they were not forced to take such decision. But we had convinced them to reconvert to their religion and met the family members several times before their decision," the leader said.

Several Valmikis also claim that they were forced to reconvert to their original religion, as they were "neglected" by Christianity.

But Father Jonanthan Lal, pastor at City Methodist Church, denied such reconversion claims and alleged it was a conspiracy against the religion.

He also blamed the Hindu organisation for spreading malicious propaganda against the religion.

Meanwhile district officials claimed that the situation was tense in the area after the report of re-conversion but under control.

The people who were involved in re-conversion were also keeping mum on the issue.

Click here for source

Christians discriminated, beaten up and hospitalized in Chhattisgarh

10 Christians were attacked and beaten mercilessly by a mob of 200 plus people in village Sirsiguda, Bastar District in Chhattisgarh state of India on 16^th June 2014.

The village has a long track record of discrimination against Christians and the attack was a retaliation to the complaint raised by the Christian community to that effect.

Eight men and two women, mostly from the Believers Church were beaten up including the Pastor, Ramdhar Mandavi. The beating was so severe that all of the Christians had to seek urgent medical help. One Christian Aitu Mandavi is still admitted in the nearby Jagdalpur hospital with serious injuries in the back and the head.

For some months the Christians in the village (50 plus families) had been denied ration from the government ration shop at the orders of the Sarpanch (Village council head). The Christians then approached the district food inspector and asked him to intervene and according to reports received, he and his colleague did speak to the village head and to the other villagers, which caused anger and a backlash against Christians.  The food inspector and his colleague were chased away from the village and the fundamentalist Hindus registered a false complaint in the local police station of Badanji, accusing Christians of beating up Hindus. The beating of the Christians followed this accusation and the ten were seriously injured.

The Christians had to wait for hours together before their complaint was entertained in the local police station on 18^th June 2014. Even medical facilities were denied initially to the injured Christians.

“At the moment one Christian, Aitu Mandavi, is still admitted in the hospital while the rest have been discharged even without proper treatment,” said a local Christian leader while speaking to us. 

It is reported that the women were also misbehaved with and beaten up. 

The pew research forum in its report on religious hostility ranks India on very top as far as social restrictions to religion is concerned and this is a stark example of that fact, where social restriction and backlash is provided protection and sanction by the authorities (in this case the village council head).

Chapels Damaged in Kerala

On 29 April, suspected Hindu extremists damaged three chapels in Irinjalakuda diocese allegedly as a fallout of the police action when they cleared the way for the "way of Cross' procession of the Saint Anthony's Catholic Church resulting in about 25 in custody.
Our correspondent, Rev Noel Kotian reported that on 11 April, the extremists blocked the procession of St Antony's Catholic Church and recited Hindu hymns. The police intervened and cleared the passage for the procession.
Church authorities said they had taken permission from the temple authorities to let the procession pass through the temple premises and that it was the practice for several years.
However, the extremists claimed that they had objected to the procession as they had the temple authorities' order for the same. However, the police said that they allowed the procession to pass through the temple premises on the strength of the order of the temple authorities.

Source: EFINEWS

Church Properties Damaged in Karnataka

On 18 May in Kundupur, properties of two churches were allegedly damaged by unidentified miscreants.
Our correspondent Rev. Noel Kotian reported that an ornamental pot at the entrance of the Holy Rosary church was found broken and a signpost leading to St. Antony Church in Koteshwar also was found uprooted.
The town police have registered cases in connection with both incidents.

Source: EFINEWS

Church demolished by VHP goons as district officials watch in Chhattisgarh.

The Nagalpalika (city council) of Jagdalpur city in the state of Chhattisgarh, India demolished a Church allegedly under the sway of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) [World Council of Hindus] on March 13, 2013.

The move has been widely criticized by state Christian leaders and has caused turmoil in the small Christian community.

According to reports  the Church was built on a land belonging to the pastor Budhram Baghel after obtaining due permissions in 2006.

The Church building in 2006 was a temporary shed which was constructed after obtaining permission of the village head. The village council of village Gadia had even donated 10000 rupees towards the construction of the temporary Church building then. Later this temporary structure was made permanent after obtaining necessary clearances in January 2012.

The Church known as the Divya Jyoti Church, serves the spiritual needs of 100 plus tribal Christians who are now without a worship place.

According to reports Yogeshwar Kashyap, Lakhmuram and Shyamlal of Gadia village, allegedly VHP activists, filed a complaint with the Tesildar (Revenue administrative officer) of the area alleging that the construction of the Divya Jyoti church building took place in the government land.

They in their report demanded the demolition of the Church building. Local media was mobilized by the VHP people and local vernacular media covered the news on March 12, 2013.

On March 13, 2013 the local VHP Vice President Kailash Rathi and office bearer Yogendra Kaushik came with a bulldozer with a huge mob of Hindu fundamentalists, and started demolishing the Church Building.

While the demolition was being carried out the Tehsildar (Revenue officer), Local Police Station In charge  Mr. Shukla, Patwari (Officer incharge of the documentation of the land), Sarpanch (Village Head) Mr. Lakshman, and a posse of police personnel were watching the entire proceeding silently.

According to reports from local Christian leaders, the demolition started at about 01 PM on 13th March 2013. The Christian leaders alleged that the VHP office bearers were commanding all the administrative officials and Police, as if they were in charge of the whole district, the officials were meekly obeying them and taking orders.

The Christian leaders have said that the mob demolishing the Church constituted of Bhonjaram, Jatia, Dursai, Hungo, Budhram, Sakru, Gaita, Anant, Pilu, Ranu, Gutli, Boga, Samnath, Kuya, Yogesh, and Lakhu among others.

It is important to note that while the Construction of the church building was termed illegal by the office bearers of VHP, no measurement of land was ever carried out by the Revenue officials present. No notice of any kind was ever served to any of the aggrieved.

It was observed that the word of the VHP activists was the law which was meekly followed by all the administrative officials. A tractor- loader demolished walls and roof of the church building.

When local tribal protested and tried to stop the demolition they were beaten, verbally abused and pushed around. These included many women and children. The women were subjected to lewd gestures by the members of the VHP.

When Christian tribals  approached the police station to lodge an FIR they were threatened with dire consequences and were asked to leave the police station. They were warned that they could be charged as Naxals if they do not leave and could lose their lives. 

During the demolition objects of faith were desecrated. Offerings were looted and taken away by the fundamentalist.

Part of Pastor Budhram Baghel’s house which was standing there for the last 70 years on his own land, was also destroyed, his ration and other belongings were thrown out of his house.

While the local Christians have managed to register a complaint in the Lohandiguda police station, no case has been registered.

Bajrang Dal men attack Christian prayer house in Udupi, 7 injured

Seven persons were injured when they were allegedly assaulted by Bajrang Dal activists during an attack on a Christian prayer house at Moodubelle in Udupi district, on suspicion that conversion activities were being carried out there, a senior police official said. The attack was carried out on Friday night after the activists had lodged a police complaint against a man, accusing him of indulging in conversion, Udupi SP D R Boralingaiah told PTI.

A group of Bajrang Dal activists barged into the man's residence at Moodubelle, also a prayer house, and assaulted the people gathered there, he said, adding that 19 of them had been arrested.

Senior officials, including IGP Pratap Reddy visited the place. The coastal districts of Udupi and Mangalore had in the past seen attacks on churches triggered by suspicion that they were carrying out conversion.

Click HERE for source

Christians attacked by mob in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh

A Christian meeting was attacked by a violent mob comprising of Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena people in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh on February 8, 2013.

The India Christian Assembly Church of God which is based at Rajnandgaon for the last 20 years was observing a three day revival meeting.

The ministry was also having a graduation ceremony for around 14 students who had completed a six months theological course from the Church institute.

According to reports, around 300 people were in attendance at the time of the attack which was aroubnd 3 pm.

The attackers were carrying weapons and used them to strike the crowds which dispersed as soon as the attack started.

Women and children too were not spared but were beaten up mercilessly. According to reports the attackers kicked the children and stomped on them. They also tore bibles, abused Christian gods and shouted slogans against the Christian community.

The police were called as soon as the attack started but they did nothing and remained mute spectators while the Hindutva organizations wreaked mayhem on the people left for nearly three hours. 

Christians were stranded in bus stations and train stations for hours after the incident, many in injured conditions and needed help.

Some of the injured who had been admitted in the hospital have disappeared from there.