ATTACK ON SALVATION PRAYER TOWER CHURCH
KANKER, CHHATTISGARH
September 23’ 2007
Name of the victim : Pastor Praduman Meshram
Family of the victim : Wife - Nurse in a government hospital of a nearby village, Daughter - 7 yrs, Son - 4 yrs.
Church : Salvation Prayer Tower is a growing church amidst difficult circumstances. Pastor Praduman cooperates with EFI Chhattisgarh and has recently applied for life membership. The church was started in 1999.
Organization : Uddhar Samaj Sevi Sanstha
Location : Sanjay Nagar, Kanker, Chhattisgarh, India. There has been much persecution of the Christians in last three years in Kanker town. Villages of Kanker district are heavily under influence of naxalism.
Incident :
Date - September 23'2007
Time - 11:30 AM
Pastor Praduman Meshram was leading the regular Sunday worship of the church, in a small hall adjoining the house of a believer, which is being used as the church building. Worship service started at 10 AM. There were about 30 women, 15 children and 10 men in the congregation. Most of them were believers from non Christian background.
At about 11:30 AM, about 20 youth belonging to local Bajrang Dal stormed into the church. They forcibly took Pastor Praduman Meshram out and started beating mercilessly. Local congregation specially women immediately came forward to protect their pastor.
Motorcycle of the pastor was also badly damaged. Meanwhile someone from the congregation informed the local police, which reached the spot in about 15 minutes. All assailants fled from the place as soon as police arrived.
Pastor and believers were taken to the police station. Complaint was lodged against the assailants and statements of the pastor and six sisters of the church were recorded. Pastor was taken to the government hospital for medical check up.
He sustained many injuries, specially in the chest and thighs. He was discharged from the hospital after preliminary treatment. All of them were released from the police station at about 9PM.
No FIR has been registered so far.
Please uphold the pastor and the congregation before the Throne of Grace.
Respectfully submitted by,
A.Edgar
