By Sammie Jones-
Over 30 members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) group attacked hundreds of pastors and other Christian leaders armed with hockey sticks, baseball bats and pistols, according to International Christian Concern (ICC).
The Christian group that arranged to meet for a day of prayer were helpless as the thugs burst into the hotel hall, launching their attack randomly. The hardcore VHP activists first set upon the event organizer, shoving his pregnant wife to the ground before smashing up musical equipment belonging to the group.We were taken to the police station on the false charges that we were involved in the forcible conversions and the police filed an FIR (First Information Report) against us.”
The violent radicals accused the pastor of bribing Hindus to convert to Christianity by offering them money and gifts. Pastor Srikanth was detained until 7pm that evening and, upon his release, was warned by police not to conduct prayers in the village any more. Between 3 and 5% of India’s population percent follow Christianity, if quarterly and annual conversion estimates by the Church are to be believed. It comes behind Islam with 14.2 % followers, and Hinduism- the most followed religion in India- with 79.8% followers.
According to a study produced by Aid to the Church in Need, a charity helping persecuted Christians worshippers in India have faced a rising wave of violence since the elections in March 2017. A study provided by ‘Aid to the Church in Need says a majority of the attacks are believed to be politically motivated
Pastor matur ctold reporters that the mob, who arrived at 7.45pm, targeted him because he was leading the prayer meeting in the absence of the local pastor. He is now stricken with fear and too afraid to leave his house since the brutal attack and said that other Christians in the area remain terrified.
He added: “This is the not the first time. We were attacked twice in the last few years, but then the police acted fairly and the rule of law was applied.
“In this case, nothing seems to be working for us as both the media and police took the side of the attackers.”
Just days after the attack, a pastor was set upon by 25 Hindu radicals on November 4 while leading Sunday worship in Lokapur in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, about 120 kilometres from Santos Nagar. Pastor Srikanth Durgappa was beaten up and dragged along the road for a kilometer to the local police station where he was further assaulted by officers, leaving him with a fractured chin bone.
Such attacks are disgraceful. Groups must respect other people’s right to practice their beliefs freely. In saying that, India’s Christian leaders will be wrong and unwise if they are using gifts or money as a strategy of conversion because this can easily be seen as bribery. Only last year, villagers in Uttar Pradesh state, India beat Christians, and forced them to participate in Hindu rituals, refusing to provide them water, Christian watchdog, ICC told The Eye Of Media.Com in a mail later accompanied by a phone call.
The group heard that villagers in Uttar Pradesh state, India had last year beaten Christians and forced them to participate in Hindu rituals and have refused to provide them water, sources said.
The youths were forced by the extremists to consume gangajal and tulsi leaves and deny Christ. Those who refused were subjected to fiercer attacks.
India is one of the most notorious countries for persecution of Christians. It comes after North Korea, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and many others.Religious wars and persecution makes a mockery of those defending their own religion.
Photograph: Morning Herald News