03/29/2019 Nepal (International Christian Concern) – Earlier this month, a pastor in Nepal’s southeastern district of Sarlahie was attacked and beaten by a group of unknown assailants. According to the victimized pastor and others, the attackers likely beat the pastor because of his Christian ministry.
On March 15, Pastor Dhruk Kumar was abducted by a group of unknown men who approached him on two motorbikes. These unknown men then brought Pastor Kumar to a secluded place in the jungle and severely beat him.
According to Pastor Kumar, the men told him that they were Maoists and then accused Pastor Kumar of taking money to share his religion. The men then demanded Pastor Kumar give them the money he had received to spread his religion. When Pastor Kumar replied that he had no money to give, the unknown assailants beat him. The attack has been reported to local police who are currently investigating the crime.
However, local Christians doubt that the men who attacked Pastor Kumar were actually Maoists. “I think they were probably Hindu radicals,” a Nepalese pastor interviewed by International Christian Concern (ICC) said. “Maoists typically don’t care about religion, so saying that they were Maoists may have been an attempt to conceal their true identities.”
The persecution of Nepal’s small Christian community has intensified in recent years. In 2018, Nepal enacted a law that made religious conversions illegal. According to Christians, the law was adopted to be used against Nepal’s growing Christian community.
For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.
