One Killed; Another Wounded in Grenade Attack

04 June 2003

One teacher was killed and another wounded on May 22 when a grenade was thrown at the gates of Saint Lukes Convent School in Nai Basti, 50 kilometres from Srinagar, the capital of the troubled state of Kashmir. Two women, Sister Kamlesh and Sister Mary Sipkota, both from West Bengal, were injured and taken to hospital. On route, Kamlesh died of her injuries. There have been no arrests, though militant Islamic groups are suspected to be responsible. Muslim clergy and militant Islamic groups in the area have been speaking out against Christians lately because of reports of up to 20,000 converts to Christianity in the past eight years.

Sipkota told The Indian Express, "We left our campus at St. Lukes at around 7:15 p.m. to go to a phone booth. We wanted to call our homes in West Bengal and just then a grenade hit us from nowhere."

Pray for a quick and full healing for Sister Mary Sipkota. Pray for other Christians serving in this predominantly Muslim area of India. Pray for protection and the ability to minister effectively in the name of Christ, exhibiting His love and truth to those who oppose Him.

India

India Information

Current Ministry Projects
VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”

Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defense, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry, Medical Fund
Country Information
Population
1,399,179,585 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)

Religion (%)
Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

Leader
President Droupadi Murmu (2022)

Government type
Federal parliamentary republic

Legal system
Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for India
Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.

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