Pastor Attacked, Threatened in India's Madhya Pradesh

:: christianpost :: A 51-year-old pastor was attacked by suspected Hindu radicals in central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on Monday threatening him further attacks.

According to Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), about 15 anti-Christian fanatics on motor-cycles broke into Rhema Gospel Church, a house Church in Jabalpur city at 12:30 p.m., shouting slogans ‘Jai Sri Ram’ (hail god Rama) and destroyed the cross in the entrance and threatened the pastor Pastor Peter Johnson Lal with further attacks. The threats and intimidations went on for half an hour, said the report.

The radicals are suspected to be members from Abhinav Bhrathi - a Hindu extremist wing suspected to be involved in bomb blasts in different parts of India, said GCIC, the voice of persecuted Christians in India.

Later Pastor Peter Johnson Lal gave a complaint letter to Adharthal Police Station which is 14 k.m. from Jabalpur Railway Station. The police assured speedy investigation. No arrests have been made so far.

GCIC said, some groups of the Hindu nationalist - Sangh Parivar have pushed their nationalistic goals through extreme and, at times, violent means.

Madhya Pradesh is known for sporadic attacks on Christians. In August, a witchcraft practicing woman and unknown villagers burnt down a home of Raj Bahor, 27 in Rewa district, who has embraced Christianity in a Central Indian state as the cast spells have no more effect on the Mr. Bahor.

Madhya Pradesh, centrally placed state has been under the rule of Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), serving for the consecutive second term in power since 2003. BJP is known for introducing anti-conversion bill whenever they get a comfortable majority seats in any state assembly to the discomfort of Christians.

A growing Christians make up less than 1 percent of the total 60 million populations where overwhelmingly 91 percent are Hindus; Muslims make up 6.4 percent, and Sikh, Buddhist and others make up the rest according to 2001 census of India.