11/26/2018 India (International Christian Concern) – Kamareddy, a district in India’s Telangana State, has witnessed frequent attacks on Christians this year. The latest attack took place on November 9 and left 46-year-old Pastor U. Kristudasu and his son, S. Hanok, seriously injured and hospitalized for three days. According to Pastor Kristudasu, a mob of radical Hindus attacked because they suspected a church was being built in Gandhari village, where Pastor Kristudasu has been serving for nearly 30 years.
According to Pastor Kristudasu, a mob of over 100 radicals, believed to be part of the Sevasena and Bajrangdal groups, attacked while he and his son were clearing an area to build a house for themselves in Gandhari. While shouting anti-Christian slogans, the mob accused Pastor Kristudasu of building a church, brutally beat the Christians, and dragged both father and son to the local police station.
Talking with International Christian Concern (ICC), Pastor Kristudasu said, “I doubted if we would survive with the kind of brutality I have seen and experienced. When my son came to my rescue, the attention was shifted onto him and he was brutally attacked with punches and beatings. He is still not normal with all the internal pains and bruises even after more than two weeks since the incident.”
Gandhari village is located 100 miles towards north of Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana. The attack on Pastor Kristudasu was one of four incidents in just the last three months in Kamareddy district. A complaint has been filed by Pastor Kristudasu and a FIR was registered against members of the mob.
“We will continue to stay and serve God as long as God enables us,” Pastor Kristudasu said. “We are so shattered as a family, but honored to suffer for the Jesus. Please pray for us.”
For interviews with William Stark, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.
