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India

• Christian Compound in India Under Siege

  Hundreds of Hindus surrounded a Christian compound in the village of Sikaria in Bihar, India on August 31.  They demanded the arrest of Rev. Augustine Jebakumar, director of the Gospel Echoing Missionary Society (GEMS) compound.  The crowds remained for three days until police succumbed to pressure and arrested Rev. Jebakumar.

  The incident began when a group of young people were passing by the compound in a religious procession. Jebakumar asked them to turn down the volume of their loudspeakers, since students were studying inside.  The young people proceeded to attack Jebakumar and others who came to his rescue.  Several Christians were injured. Two required hospitalization.  Someone in the mob managed to disconnect the power to the compound and, in the confusion and dark, an idol that was being carried in the Hindu procession was broken.  The mob claimed that Jebakumar was responsible and demanded that he be arrested for desecrating the idol.  As word of the incident spread, hundreds of Hindus joined in demanding Jebakumar's arrest.  Inside the compound were around 100 families and 900 children.

  On the afternoon of September 3, police arrested Jebakumar, holding him for several hours before releasing him.  Following his arrest, the crowds dissipated and the tension appears to have abated.  According to GEMS, this is the fourth such incident.

  A representative of GEMS requests prayer that everything will return to normal as soon as possible.  Pray that the violence will not restart with the return of Rev. Jebakumar.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here.

• Indian Christians Detained for Worshipping with Accused Couple

  The harassment of Jagdish and Grace Nayak, accused of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity (click here for details), continued when police detained two Christians who were worshiping in the Nayak home in Indore, India on September 4.

  According to a September 8 report from Compass Direct, police entered the home during the worship service and told Atul David and Antar Singh to come out and sit in their jeep.  Outside the home was a mob of approximately 500.  The leader of the mob threatened to burn the men alive if they attended the worship service again.  The police then took the two to the police station where they were warned by the police to not worship again with the Nayaks.  The police inspector Mohan Singh Yadav has since denied giving any such warning.

  Continue to pray for the Nayaks, as they await their trial.  Pray for protection for other Christians in the area, as they meet together for worship.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here.

• Prayer Meeting Attacked in India

  On August 21, a mob of Hindu militants attacked a prayer meeting in the town of Indore in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.  According to an August 29 report from Compass Direct, ten people were injured in the attack, including a two-year-old child.  It appears the attack was aimed at a couple leading the prayer meeting who are facing charges of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.  The Persecution and Prayer Alert first reported on case of Jagdish and Grace Nayak on July 27. 

  The attack occurred at 11:30 a.m. when a mob of around 50 reportedly from the militant Hindu Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pelted the building with stones.  They then entered the building and began destroying the contents and beating those present.  The Nayaks and their baby were badly injured in the assault.

  Though the Nayaks were able to identify three of their attackers, the police have denied any involvement by the RSS.  The police superintendent, Adarsh Katiyar, told Compass Direct, "The attackers were local people of that area, who claimed the family was converting Hindus to Christianity. They were not from any organization."

  Pray for the healing of the Nayaks and others injured in this attack.  Pray for safety for this couple, as they continue to minister despite these accusations against them.

  For more information on situation facing the Church in India,click here.

• Nine Seriously Injured After Indian Prayer Meeting Disrupted

  Hindu militants in the Banswara district of Rajasthan, near the border of Madhya Pradesh, interrupted a prayer meeting around midnight on August 14 and began assaulting those present.  Nine Christians were seriously wounded in the attack.

  On the occasion of India's Independence Day on August 15, approximately fifty Christians had gathered from the villages of Pathda and Piploda for a three-day prayer vigil to pray for their nation at the home of Jeeva Badar.

  According to the August 15 report from Compass Direct, those injured include Badar, who suffered an axe blow to the head and required nine stitches.  One lady, Asha Suresh, was strangled to the point where she was still unable to speak at last report.  Also injured were Border Dippa, Bua Rupa, Prabhu Baji, Laxman Rupara, Shandu Mangu, Khumji Hawala and Dangi Mangu.  The attackers were dressed in the typical khaki uniform of the militant group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

  When representatives from Miracle Ministry, who organized the prayer meeting, attempted to obtain a copy of the police report, a mob of around 300 met them at the police station.  The police were forced to escort them across the border into Madhya Pradesh. Pastor Biju Varghese of Miracle Ministry has expressed fear for the safety of the Christians in the area.

  Pray for the safety of the believers in this very poor area of Rajasthan.  Join with these believers as they pray for freedom of worship and religious practice throughout their nation.  Reports suggest that another Indian state, Chattisgarh, is endeavouring to strengthen its anti-conversion legislation.  Under the proposed changes, anyone wishing to convert would require the approval of district officials.  Anyone found to converting someone forcibly or fraudulently could face up to four years in prison and a fine up to 100,000 rupees ($2750 CDN).

  For more information on the difficulties facing Christians in India, the most populated democracy in the world,click here.

• UPDATE: Forcible Conversion Allegations Dismissed

  Last week, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on accusations of forcible conversions leveled against Christians in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (click here for more details).  According to a July 28 report from AsiaNews, a panel set up to investigate the allegations has shown them to be completely false.  Hindu leaders in the area told the panel that the tribal people in the area have been drawn to Christianity because of the care they receive and not because of coercion.  A local leader of the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Pintoo Jaiswal, told the panel that the missionaries "embraced" the tribal people when Hindus were hesitant to even touch them.  Jaiswal sends his own children to a Christian school and reports there have been no attempts to convert them.

• Christians Face Increasing Difficulties in Madhya Pradesh

  The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is one of several with legislation restricting religious conversions.  This legislation has led to arrests and mob violence in areas throughout India.  According to a July 26 report from Compass Direct, government officials from Madhya Pradesh are considering amendments to its present legislation to check the increasing numbers of tribal people converting to Christianity.

  Three incidents in the past week demonstrate the difficulties facing Christians because of this legislation.  On July 20, a couple in Jeet Nagar village were charged with trying to convert poor Hindus to Christianity by offering inducements.  According to a report in the Hindustan Times, members of the Hindu organization Jagaran Manch claim that Gracy Naik and her husband Jagdish are offering food, medicine and free education as an inducement for people to convert to Christianity.

  On July 21, Father P.T. Thomas, director of St. Michael's Catholic School in the Jhabua district in western Madhya Pradesh, was arrested under the "Freedom of Religion Act."  It is alleged that he was abetting conversion to Christianity by offering reduced school fees to Christians.  He has been released on bail.  A recent report claims that the number of Christians in the Jhagua district has increased by eighty percent in the past twenty years.

  In Gandhi Nagar in the Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh, members of the militant Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh stormed a pastor's retreat on July 23 and asked tribal participants why they were attending.  As a result of this intrusion, police and media representatives investigated the conference and accused the organizers of encouraging forced conversions.  No arrests have been made in this incident.

  Continue to pray for Christian ministries in India as they endeavour to serve the needs of the Indian people under increasing pressure.

  For more information on the challenges facing Christians in India,click here.

• Villagers in India Lock Church Building and Expel Pastor

  A church building in the village of Murichambedu in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has been locked by villagers angry because many people have been coming to Christ through the work of a local pastor named Steven (45).  According to the July 13 edition of the Tamil newspaper Dinamalar, Steven, his wife Annammal and their two children moved to the village two years ago and began leading villagers to the Lord.  The newspaper reported that he "started spreading his tentacles to neighbouring villages" as well. So many people converted to Christianity that local Hindu rituals and festivals began to suffer.  Angered by this, Hindus in the village asked him to cease his "proselytizing activities."  When Steven ignored their request, some of the villagers locked the church building and drove Steven and his family from the village.  Steven has registered a complaint with the police in nearby Mijur.  The police inspector has begun meetings with the villagers to negotiate peace.

  Pray that the ministry of Pastor Steven and other Christians in the area around Murichambedu will continue, despite this opposition.  Pray for safety for Steven and his family.  Pray that those opposing the Gospel will come to see the love of Christ and respond to Him.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here.

• Hindu Militant Arrested for Murder of Indian Pastors

  Police have arrested one man and are searching for two others responsible for the deaths of two Indian pastors in recent weeks.  On May 21, the body of Pastor K. Daniel was found on the outskirts of Hyderabad.  On June 2, Pastor Isaac Raju was also found murdered (for more details, click here).  Police interrogated members of various militant Hindu groups in connection with the murder before arresting Goverdhan, a member of Hindu Vahini (Hindu Army). 

  According to news reports, Goverdhan and his accomplices, Satyanarayana and Ganesh, were emboldened to commit the murders after the Orissa High Court commuted the death sentence of

  Jeep where Graham Staines was burned to death in 1999

  Dara Singh to life imprisonment.  Singh was convicted of the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons.  A close relative of Goverdhan is reported to have converted to Christianity and they wanted to stop further evangelistic activities.

  Continue to pray for the families and friends of these murdered pastors.  Pray also for those responsible for the killings, that they will find the mercy and grace of God and will turn to Him.

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.

• Kashmiri Woman Escapes Her Kidnappers Twice

  Nargis (22) is a Christian worker in the predominantly Muslim area of Kashmir, India.  According to Asia Harvest, she was kidnapped five weeks ago.  When her friends heard no news from her, they began to fear for the worst.  On June 8, however, coworkers received a phone call from her saying she had managed to escape.  She said that her captors had produced false documents claiming she had married one of them.  She gave them her location.  Her family rushed to get her, only to find out that she had been captured again.  Ten days later, the family received notice that she had escaped for a second time and was making her way to a safe location.

  Pray that she will be safe from her attackers.  Pray for her physical, emotional and mental healing.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here.

• Indian Militants Disrupt Church Service; Christians Charged

  Sunday worship services were suddenly disrupted on June 6 when approximately 200 armed Hindu militants stormed a church in Moti Chowk village in Chhattisgarh, India.  Reports indicate that they were accompanied by two police officers when they entered the church.  According to a June 9 report from Compass Direct, the mob physically assaulted Pastor Jaichand Dongre and other church members.  Eyewitnesses said that the police officers slapped the pastor several times and attempted to humiliate him.  The mob looted the church and took Bibles, Christian literature and musical instruments.  Astonishingly, nine church members were then taken to the local police station and charged with disturbing the peace.  The police refused to intervene when the rabble slapped the pastor on his way to the police station.

  When a representative of the Minority Commission contacted the police station, he was initially told that the nine were charged because of conversion activities and that they deserved what they got.  Those arrested were held for two days before being released on bail.  Since then, the situation in the village has remained tense.  Christians are being refused access to the village well and the local markets as activists ordered a social boycott.

  Pray for these and other Christians in India facing social and legal difficulties because of their faith in Christ.  Pray that the charges will be dropped and that political pressure will come to bear on local officials who endeavour to stop the spread of the Gospel through violence and persecution.

  For more information on persecution facing Christians in India,click here.