NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Persecution of minority Christians in India is escalating ahead of Christmas with attacks reported in several areas including in southern regions and the capital New Delhi. In one of the latest known incidents Saturday, December 13, evangelical Christians were attacked and beaten by Hindu militants for singing Christmas carols in Indias southern city of Hyderabad, seriously injuring a pastor and four others, rights activists told BosNewsLife. The violence occurred while Pastor Bhim Nayak of Banjara Baptist Church and fifteen church members sang Christmas carols and visited Christian families in the citys Singareny Colony. Local Christians said some thirty Hindu radicals attacked the Christians and a vehicle they had hired for the evening festivities. The Hindu mob was seen surrounding the vehicle, with several shouting that believers were trying to forcefully convert people to Christianity by singing Christmas carols. Angry Hindus soon smashed the vehicles windows and dragged the Christians out into the street where they were beaten severely, witnesses said. PASTOR, FAMILY INJURED Pastor Nayak and four others, including his wife and son, were reportedly severely injured after being hit by sticks and clubs. The pastor, who was said to be the focal point of the radicals rage, collapsed, unconscious, covered in blood, Christians said. Nayak was reportedly rushed to a local clinic where he received first aid and was transferred to a Hyderabad hospital where he, his wife and son receive intensive care. It was no isolated incident, with massive Hindu-led reconversion campaigns taking place all across the northern India and reports of forced conversions and violence against Christians, according to advocacy group International Christian Concern (ICC), which supports the pastor. Violence has also been reported in New Delhi where Christians have demanded justice after a church was torched earlier this month. Though no one was inside the targeted St. Sebastian’s Church in the capitals Dilshad Garden area, regional Archbishop Anil Couto said the entire interior was “reduced to ashes”. The December 1 attack prompted Christians to demonstrate near police headquarters. ANTI-SOCIAL ELEMENTS In published renarks, the president of aid and advocacy group Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), Sajan K George, warned that “the holy season of Advent is always targeted by anti-social elements. He said, They want to breed suspicion, discord and disharmony between religious communities”. Yet in an unprecedented move, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized for a parliamentarians insulting comments comments towards non-Hindu minorities, including Christians, saying that they were unacceptable. He said however that Niranjan Jyoti has apologised for her remarks and that “she is a first-time member and comes from a rural background”. The opposition reportedly demanded a resolution to condemn her “revolting” remarks. Prime Minister Modis Hindu nationalist BJP party enjoys a comfortable majority, after winning the May 2014 election. -------------------------------------- (BosNewsLife (2004-2014) is the first truly independent news agency covering persecuted Christians. It has been Breaking the News for Compassionate Professionals since May 2004. Please help BosNewsLife to remain a voice of the voiceless. Click here for a subscription). Why people are ready to suffer for Christ? Want to know more what they believe? Click here Visit BosNewsLifes Link Partners: religiousfreedomcoalition.org Raising its voice for religious freedom. Every day. thejerusalemgiftshop/ Visit them at these strategic times and support believers in Israel. christmasforrefugees.org/ A real Christmas for Syrian and Iraqi children refugees.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 12:58:38 +0000
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