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Hundreds of Hindu Radicals Raid Church in Central India

May 9, 2016 | Asia
May 9, 2016
AsiaIndia

ICC Note:

A Protestant church in Jobat City, located in India’s Madhya Pradesh state, was attacked by reportedly 500 Hindu radicals after a BJP flag outside the church was found to be damaged. Churchgoers were pelted with stones and the radicals damaged much of the church’s property. Attacks on Christians and their places of worship have become more common in recent years in India. In 2015, Christians were attacked 365 times, making 2015 the worst year for Christians in India’s independent history. 

5/9/2016 India (Christian Daily) – About 500 Hindu radicals raided a Protestant Church in Jobat City, Madhya Pradesh state in India, breaking down its entrance and assailed its churchgoers with stones. The attack by the extremists was brought about by reports that the flag of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is a conservative Hindu nationalist political party, was desecrated and torn when it was placed outside the Church.

Members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu ultra-nationalist paramilitary group, Bajrang Dal, the youth wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and BJP stormed the Church, throwing stones at the community, attacking the women, and breaking the Church lamps.

According to Pastor Emmanuel Arial of the Church, the Church and its churchgoers had no part in the tearing and desecration of the BJP flag. There is a possibility that it was just simply torn by the wind.

He also indicated that the police around the area did not take action and only stood as bystanders as the attack by the extremists was ongoing.

“All this happened before the eyes of the police officers, who stood by as silent spectators,” the pastor said, as quoted by Christians in Pakistan.

A local police official from Alirajpur district police, however, indicated that as soon as they received reports of the attack, it was immediately registered and a police contingent was dispatched to the Church.

[Full Story]
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