GFA Film Team Missionaries Severely Beaten, Kicked
Gospel for Asia
01/23/09 MANIPUR, INDIA (ANS) -- A few days ago, Gospel for Asia film missionaries Randhir Malhotra and Kritanu Sarin were badly beaten, kicked and robbed before they could show a film on the life of Jesus in a village in Manipur, India.
Despite some opposition, just the night before the two missionaries had been able to successfully show the film on Jesus' life to a crowd of about 100 people in a neighboring village. But they would encounter more fierce opposition in this village.
The trouble started when Randhir and Kritanu were in the village around mid-afternoon on January 20, figuring out a location to show the film. Two individuals claiming to have authority in the village confronted the missionaries and began interrogating them.
Randhir and Kritanu explained that they were there to show a Gospel film, but the individuals refused to believe them, asking them which militant group they belonged to. Then the two interrogators took the missionaries to another location where three others were waiting.
The small mob blindfolded the missionaries and led them to still another location. Pointing a gun to each of their heads, they proceeded to beat them mercilessly with huge sticks, inflicting black and blue marks on their bodies. They pushed Randhir and Kritanu to the ground, kicked them roughly and confiscated their money and belongings.
The attackers did return the missionaries' cell phones, but only after threatening them not to show up in the village again. A kind individual took compassion on the young men and gave them money for bus fare to get home, and GFA leaders immediately got them to a hospital for medical treatment. Based on the extent of the missionaries' injuries, their physicians asked them to return for further examination and ultrasound scans.
GFA leaders ask for prayer for physical healing and comfort for these two laborers as they seek to share the love of Christ in Manipur.
