Prominent Church Worker Murdered

22 November 2006

^{Bashir Ahmad Tantray.
Photo from Global Council of Indian Christians' (GCIC)}^{Persecution Update}

A Christian convert from Islam was murdered by two unidentified Muslim militants on November 21 in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

According to a November 21 report from Compass Direct, Bashir Ahmed Tantray (50) was shot and killed while he was waiting by a bus stand in the village of Mamoosa, Barmullah. Eye-witness accounts claim that two young Muslim men came to the bus stand at 10:10 a.m. and started to inquire about bus timings. Then one of the militants took out a pistol and fired three rounds at Tantray at point-blank range.

Tantray converted to Christianity ten years ago and had since been an active and widely known Christian worker in the state. A local Christian told Compass Direct, "There is no doubt among the people, both Christian and Muslim, here that he was killed because of his identity as Christian worker."

Tantray is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons.

Pray that those who mourn for Tantray will find comfort in the fact that Christ is victorious over death and that those who die in Christ will be raised with Him. In view of this promise, pray that Christians in India will continue to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Pray that persecutors of Christians will come to repentance and salvation, just as Paul did. (Acts 9:1-19).

For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, click here. The second part of a new video series on persecution in India was added this week to VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.

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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