Christians Beaten, Accused of Forcible Conversion in Karnataka, India
by Staff
June 18, 2007
(christiansunite.com) - Pastor Laxmi Narayana (35) was attacked by members of the Hindu militant organization Bajrang Dal in the city of Hesargetta, Karnataka on June 8. According to the All India Christian Council, at approximately 7:00 p.m., fifty militants stormed into Pastor Narayana's home and threatened him with violence if he did not leave the area.Shortly thereafter, 100 more militants arrived and assaulted Narayana in front of his wife and two small children. One of the attackers doused Pastor Narayana with kerosene and attempted to set him on fire with a burning Bible.
The militants then stripped Narayana naked, hung a sign around his neck that said, "I am the one who converts people" and paraded him through the city streets while over 1,000 Hindus joined in harassing him. He is currently in hospital with swelling and numerous bruises.
On June 10, nine Christians were attacked in the town of Siris, Karnataka by members of the militant Hindu organization Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) who accused them of committing forcible conversions. The militants barged into a house where the believers were gathered for Sunday worship, disrupted the service and tore pages from a song book. They then handed the believers over to the police, claiming they had been conducting conversions for the past three months in a local hut.
Pray that these Christians will come into a deeper relationship with Christ as they embrace the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:7-10). Ask God to give those injured a speedy recovery. Pray that those who persecute will come to know Christ as Lord.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to www.persecution.net/country/india.htm. VOMC's multimedia website, www.persecution.tv has several features from India.
