ICC Note:

Christians in Andhra Pradesh, India have claimed that a pastor murdered in July was killed by Maoist rebels due to his successful ministry. According to local Christians, the pastor’s successful ministry taught locals to put their faith in God instead of the rebels. The rebels found this message offensive and murdered the pastor, claiming he was taking advantage of the poor. Christians in India often face persecution and discrimination from both Maoist rebels, who reject religion entirely, and Hindu radicals, who believe Christianity is a foreign religion that must be driven out of India. 

11/03/2016 India (Christian Today) – Contrary to the reasons communist guerrillas in India gave for murdering a pastor in July, area church leaders said he was killed for carrying out his Christian calling.

Communist Party of India (Maoist) guerrillas known as Naxalites killed Pastor Yohan Marayya in East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh state on July 29, leaving a note near his body stating that he was killed for being “very friendly” with police (an informant), accumulating wealth and “exploiting the poor.” The note also warned that 10 more people would be killed, including six pastors.

Area church leaders, however, said the accusations were untrue and told Morning Star News that Pastor Marayya was killed for the thriving ministries he and his brothers were carrying out, which threatened the communists’ influence in the area.

“The real reason behind the brutal killing of pastor Yohan was because of their ministries, and the churches being where the interests of the area people lie,” a church leader told Morning Star News on condition of anonymity. “They lost control of the people who now believed in Christ rather than in weapons, and they chose to handle the matter in this way.”

Christian leaders told Morning Star News that the death of the 45-year-old father of four came six months after the Naxalites abducted his nephew and tried to kill Pastor Marayya’s older brother, pastor Elia Kannayya, who had led the whole family to Christ, as the Naxalites were upset at the Christians for encouraging people to put their trust in God rather than join the rebel movement.

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