Pentecostal Church Burned by Hindu Radicals in India

- July 10, 2006

Jeremy Reynalds
INDIA (ANS) -- A Pentecostal Church in India has been burned to the
ground by Hindu radicals.

According to Salem Voice Ministries, the alleged arson occurred on June 30.

The alleged arsonists also destroyed 150 Bibles and hymn books. The
pastor of the church, Salem Voice reported, Jaidi Khan, escaped
unhurt.

Another anti-Christian incident occurred a few days earlier, Salem
Voice reported, when a group of medical doctors from Gandhi Medical
College in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, allegedly beat
up a Dalit Christian laborer for several hours, cut his hair and
reportedly forced him to drink his urine. The doctors apparently
suspected the laborer of stealing a wristwatch.

The man was savagely beaten, Salem Voice reported. He somehow managed
to escape from his attackers and rushed to the nearest police station.
The police filed a complaint against "unknown persons" on charges of
wrongful confinement and assault.

The victim was not able to say how many doctors beat him up. He would
identify them if they were brought before him, Salem Voice reported
police sources stated.

About a month prior to this assault there was also an alleged gang
rape and naked parade of Christians in Madhya Pradesh.

Christians Mercilessly Beaten
In another situation, dozens of Hindu activists reportedly beat up
Christians attending a weekly prayer meeting. Salem Voice reported
that the alleged attack reportedly occurred on June 25 about 30 miles
west of Raipur, the capital city of Chattisgarh. While believers were
praying, more than a dozen Hindus surrounded the house, shouting
anti-Christian rhetoric. Then they stormed the house and attacked
everyone inside.

The Hindus also punched and kicked an eight- month pregnant woman who
had to be rushed to hospital after complaining of terrible pain. Since
the hospital did not reportedly have adequate facilities, Salem Voice
reported medical personnel said they were unable to assist the woman
and dubbed her injuries as "internal." Salem Voice commented that the
police took advantage of the statement made by the hospital
authorities, and refused to pursue any action against the alleged
perpetrators.

Salem Voice reported that the six Christian families in the village
had been receiving threats for a month prior to the incident that they
needed to renounce their Christian faith or be willing to suffer the
consequences. When some of the Christians reported the incident to the
police, Salem Voice reported they began to be harassed by the Hindu
activists. According to Salem Voice, "police are hardly paying
attention to reports and complaints lodged by Christians regarding
these assaults."

Orphans Reportedly Tortured
On June 22, Salem Voice reported, about 150 Hindu extremists forcibly
entered a Christian orphanage and tortured the young residents and
their pastoral care givers. Fifty-three have been taken care of in
this orphanage. The alleged incident occurred in the Belgaum District
in Karnataka.

The Hindus reportedly conducted a Hindu worship ceremony and placed
vermilion pigment
(http://webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/overview/vermilion.html) on
the forehead of each child. This was not the first time the assistant
pastor had been attacked by the same people, Salem Voice reported.

The owners of the house who allowed its use for the orphanage were
threatened and told not to allow its use for that purpose any longer.
Salem Voice reported that the pastors, along with the children, have
moved to a smaller house and are struggling with reduced space and
serious financial needs.