Hindu Extremists Raid Church , Beat Pastor and Wife
Washington, D.C. (December 23, 2009)–International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on December 20, Hindu extremists attacked the Sunday worship service of New Life Ministry and beat the pastor and his wife in Western Maharastra state’s Sindugurh district.
Representatives of the church told ICC that the assailants, led by local Shiv Sena Party (Hindu nationalist party) leader identified as Vaibhak Naik, barged into the worship meeting held in Anant Hotel in Kankauli at 10:45 AM. They accused Pastor Atul Bhore of “forceful conversion,” beat him and his wife and destroyed the church’s furniture and musical instruments.
With area Christian leaders’ help, police registered First Information Report (a report written by the police when they receive news of crime) against the attackers but no arrests have been made at press time.
ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia , Jonathan Racho, said, “We condemn the attacks by the Hindu radicals against the Church, the pastor and his wife. We commend the Indian police for registering First Information Report against the perpetrators and we urge the police to take all necessary actions in order to arrest all individuals who are responsible for the attacks.”
Please call the Indian embassy in your country and politely ask Indian officials to arrest the perpetrators of the attack on the church, the pastor and his wife.
Indian Embassies:
USA : (202) 939-7000 [Phone] (202) 265-4351 [Fax]
Canada : (613) 744-3751 [Phone] hicomind@hciottawa.ca
UK : 020 7836 8484 [Phone] att.pni@hcilondon.in
