Pastor T. L. Angam Haokip (31), who runs an orphanage and a Bible college, was attacked by approximately thirty-five men on the morning of September 8 in the village of Geddalahalli, Bangalore. Pastor Haokip was driving when the men walked in front of his vehicle and forced him to stop. They asked him if he was a pastor and when he said "yes" they pulled him out on to the road. The men accused him of "ruining" the nation and beat him in front of several witnesses. They tried to crush his legs with boulders and also kicked him in the neck. Pastor Haokip received severe injuries to his back and chest and his jeep was destroyed. He tried to file a complaint at the local police station but it was rejected and he was told that a complaint had been registered against him for negligent driving.
On September 9, Pastor Sudhakar and four Christians visiting from Singapore were attacked by members of Hindu militant groups while leading a worship service at the Bethel Gospel Church in the village of Amberpet, Hyderabad. According to a report from the All India Christian Council, approximately three hundred believers were gathered when the militants forcibly entered the church building and began to shout curses against Christianity. The intruders beat Pastor Sudhakar with a rod and also beat the four visitors. Prior to the attack, the militants had filed a complaint at the local police station alleging that the pastor and the Singapore team were involved in forcible conversion activities.
Pray for healing for those injured in these attacks. Ask God to bless the ministry of these pastors and other Christian workers spreading the Gospel in India. Pray that the Lord will work in the lives of the persecutors and lead them to faith in Christ.
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.”
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.
Graham Staines with sons Philip and Timothy. Photo: VOM USA
On January 23rd, 1999, Australian missionary Graham Staines, along with his two young sons Philip and Timothy, were burned to death by Hindu nationalist militants. Initially, authorities denied that the assailants had any connection to the Hindu nationalist group, Bajrang Dal, though such ties were later substantiated. While 14 men had been arrested in connection with the incident, 12 of the perpetrators were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The other two men, Mahendra Hembram and Dara Singh, were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Two busloads of Christians that had embarked on a Lenten pilgrimage tour were stopped by members of a Hindu nationalist group on March 31st and subsequently handed over to police. The incident led to the physical and verbal assault of some Christian leaders.
Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Photo: India Prime Minister's Office (GODL-India)
The Chief Minister for the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has publicly announced plans to impose the death penalty on those convicted of forced or fraudulent religious conversions. In a public meeting for International Women's Day on March 8th, Mohan Yadav equated such conversions with child molestation, stating that both crimes warrant the imposition of capital punishment. Later that evening, the state government released a statement affirming the announcement made by Mohan.
On February 19th, a group of pastors had gathered in Kusumba Village, a town located in the Jalgaon District of Maharashtra, India. As the meeting was taking place, a mob of approximately 400 Hindu nationalists suddenly attacked, brutally assaulting many of the pastors. As a result of the violence, two of the church leaders were left in critical condition.