Pastor Severely Beaten in Karnataka, India

By James Varghese
7/24/08 KARNATAKA, INDIA (ANS) — A pastor was recently assaulted by about 20 members of a radical Hindu group in front of his horrified congregation and family.

According to a news report by www.persecution.in, the attack on Pastor K. Abraham occurred on July 20 during a worship service at Friends Mission Prayer Band Church in Konvallichawla Village.

The Hindus entered the church at about 12.30 p.m., beat the pastor and destroyed all the Christian literature, as well as the Bibles, that were there in the church.

The story stated that the alleged perpetrators took Abraham to an area police station to have him arrested. Due to the intensity of the attack, Abraham collapsed at the police station. He was taken to a local government hospital where he is being treated for trauma.

According to www.persecution.in, Abraham has served the church as pastor for seven years. He is married with two children.

The story pointed out that Christian believers living in the area are under constant fear of attack, and this is the third incident in the last two months.

The Global Council of Indian Christians said that local police are very sympathetic to the radical Hindu cause. According to the web site, law enforcement refused to accept a complaint from the pastor’s wife that her husband had been attacked. They went as far as to say that the family would be thrown out of the district if a complaint was filed with authorities.