Brutal Attack of Prayer Meeting Participants

Hindu militants attacked Christians who had attended a prayer meeting in Jharkhand state on Friday, September 4th, causing some of them serious injuries requiring hospitalization. About 30 members of Anugrah (Grace) Church in Hututag village were gathered for the in-house meeting when a group of village women entered and began insulting Pastor Sarvajit Bharti and others. Shortly thereafter, two males arrived at the scene, ordering the members of the church to go outside. When the Christians refused to comply, the angered assailants forced Associate Pastor Mitilesh Kumar outside, asking if he was willing to worship Hindu idols instead of Jesus. “Mitilesh replied that they are not doing anything wrong by worshipping Christ, and they would not stop," reports another spiritual leader by the name of Pastor Nandi.

Later on, about 15 Hindu extremists broke into the prayer meeting with guns, axes, spades and clubs. Angered by the apparent absence of Pastor Sarvajit, who by this time was hidden on the roof by fellow believers, the militants began to brutally attack the remaining Christians. Six of the victims were hospitalized. Fortunately, the others sustained only minor cuts and bruises.

Since July, Christians throughout Jharkhand state have endured a growing amount of intimidation, threats and violence, in what some suspect to be a deliberate campaign to drive out Christians. With a village head that supports the Hindu extremists' actions, it has been difficult for these believers to hold worship meetings. Christians have also been forbidden from walking on the main road and getting water from the main pump. Prior to this incident, Pastor Sarvajit had to relocate from the village in July after Hindu extremists chased him during a midnight raid. More information on persecution in India is available on our website.

Let us pray for the healing of each injured victim, as well as those who've been traumatized by the attack. May these faithful believers recognize and appreciate their Heavenly Father's love as He now brings them healing and comfort in a variety of ways. May the Christians of Jharkhand province be supernaturally filled with the joy of the Lord as they continue to fellowship and worship together. In addition, pray that the perpetrators will witness the reality of Christ in the lives of the village Christians, so they will turn from evil and follow only that which is holy and honouring to their Creator.

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

  • 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.

  • Pastors Arrested and Assaulted
    A crowd is gathered around a church building.
    A screenshot of people disrupting the service in Bhilai.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    On July 20th, six pastors were arrested after a mob disrupted a church service in Bhilai, a city located within the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The assailants chanted Hindu slogans and accused the pastors of engaging in forcible conversions. As the mob grew increasingly vocal, shouting obscenities and threatening violence, Pastor Baksh locked the church doors to protect his congregation members.

  • Severe Restrictions Accompany Anti-Conversion Legislation
    A church congregation is gathered during a service.
    A church in India.
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    In early July, the Maharashtra state government announced plans to introduce stringent anti-conversion legislation. The new laws, which are expected to be the most severe of their kind in the country, are particularly aimed at preventing religious conversions within tribal communities. While the stated intent is to prevent incidents of coercion, legislators have used language demonstrating a broader aim to restrict religious conversions of any sort. During the announcement, the state's revenue minister, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, declared that the law would be so strict "no one will dare to undertake religious conversion."