12/28/2018 India (International Christian Concern) – Five youths in the Belgaum District of India’s Karnataka state were arrested in connection with an attack on a Christian worship service. The attack took place on Sunday in Kowad village located in the nearby Chandgad Tehsil District.

According to reports, about 25 to 30 youths armed with clubs, knives, and iron rods arrived on motorcycles when they attacked the worship service in Kowad village. As a result, ten were left injured, including four women. The mob of youths also damaged several vehicles parked near the location of the worship service.

Police captured the five youths after acting on a tip. The individuals arrested confessed to the crimes they had committed and implicated six others.

Attacks on Christian and their places of worship have continued to skyrocketed under BJP rule. Since 2014, the number of attacks on the Christians community has more than doubled according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India.

In preparation for the Christmas holiday, many Christians feared that their communities would be targeted and attacks by radical Hindu nationalists. This prompted many to request police protection.

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