Pastors attacked by Hindu militants


Pastor Erra Krupanamdam
Photo from GCIC

The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of violence against Christians in India in recent weeks, including two attacks on pastors.

On March 9, Hindu militants armed with rods and hockey sticks barged into the home of Pastor A.K. Wilson in Uttam Nagar, New Delhi and accused him forcibly converting people. The militants beat him, his wife and his son and robbed him of 15,000 rupees ($370 CAD). They also told him that they would burn his house down and murder his family if he did not leave the area within one week.

At approximately 6:00 p.m. on March 11, Pastor Erra Krupanamdam was returning from a prayer meeting in a new believer's home in the district of Medak, Andhra Pradesh when he was attacked by a mob of Hindu militants. The militants spoke out against the pastor's faith, told him not to conduct any more prayer meetings and beat him. He suffered fractures to his back and ribs. Later that night, with the aid of local pastors, Pastor Krupanamdam registered a complaint at the police station. At last report authorities had apprehended one of his assailants.

Pray for healing for these believers. Ask God to give church leaders in India the wisdom to know how to shepherd believers through times of suffering (James 1:5).

To find out more about the plight of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.

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.

India News

  • Pastor Acquitted of Anti-Conversion Charges
    Several people are gathered in prayer.
    Believers in India.
    Photo: VOMC

    In October 2021, Pastor Nandan Singh was gathered with 25 other Christians for an all-night prayer meeting when militant Hindus, primarily from nearby villages, stormed into his home. Accused of converting people to Christianity, Pastor Nandan became the first individual to be charged under Uttarakhand's anti-conversion legislation.

  • Supreme Court to Review Anti-Conversion Laws
    The India Supreme Court building is surrounded by trees.
    The Supreme Court of India.
    Photo: Wikimedia / Subhashish Panigrahi (cc)

    The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a series of petitions challenging the constitutionality of anti-conversion laws enacted by several of the country's states. On September 16th, the court issued notices to the respective state governments, requesting their formal responses within four weeks. The case is scheduled to be heard in six weeks, and the judges have indicated that they may consider ordering the states to pause the enforcement of their existing laws until a decision is made.

  • New Policies Further Restrict Religious Freedom
    A brightly lit church building is filled with people.
    A church in India.
    Photo: Flickr / Ashish Kumar Milap (cc)

    Recent developments in two Indian states have raised serious concerns for Christians, particularly in relation to the newly heightened restrictions on religious conversions. In the first incident, police in Chhattisgarh notified more than 200 house churches around the state capital city of Raipur that worship gatherings within private homes are no longer permitted.