Cases of Persecution from Kerala and Assam
02/06/09 India (Evangelical Fellowship of India) -
Pastor assaulted in Kerala
Hindu extremists allegedly from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on January 22 assaulted a pastor for distributing gospel tracts, left him unconscious on the road in Meenangady Taluk, Wayand, Kerala.
Rev. Samuel Varghese, an EFI correspondent reported that Pastor T.T Abraham from the Brethren Assembly Church was distributing gospel tracts when three extremists attacked him.
The extremists punched, kicked and beat up the pastor until he fell unconscious. The attackers fled the scene when they saw an approaching auto rickshaw. The rickshaw driver took the pastor to the government hospital.
The pastor was later transfer to Ashwini hospital as he sustained serious injuries on his back, belly and neck.
No police complaint was lodged as the pastor chooses to forgive the extremists.
Please pray that the pastor will recover from his injuries and that his ministry will continue to grow despite the persecution. Also pray for Kerala which witnessed a number of Christians and churches attacked in the recent past.
Christians attacked in Jorhat, Assam
A mob of 600 Hindu extremists allegedly from the Kamalabari- Sattara Establishment (one Hindu section belonging to a particular place of worship, affiliated to RSS) assaulted Christians on January 24 in Majuli Island, Jorhat, Assam.
According to an EFI correspondent, Rev. Bendang Toshi, about 400 believers from the St. Anthony's parish went to Majuli Island to witness the ordination ceremony of Deacon Hemonto Pegu, as the first Mishing catholic priest.
The extremists stopped the Christians on their way back home, shouting abusive anti-Christian words, accusing them of forcibly converting tribals and threatening to cut them into pieces.
The violent mob kicked, punched and beat up the believers including women and children, claiming that Christians should never enter their area.
The extremists forced the Christians to walk bare foot with their ears pulled for 5 kms towards Ferry Ghat. The incident lasted for an hour.
The civil administration intervened after the Jengraimukh Fr. Parish priest reported the incident. Additional force of police was rushed to the area that assisted the believers across the river.
First Information Reported (FIR) was registered in Kamalabari and Jarmukh police stations. No arrests had been made at press time.
Please pray for the believers who are still in trauma because of the incident. Pray that the dark forces against Christianity will be break down.
