Indian Christians living in fear

Hindu extremists continue to target believers in Orissa and other Indian states

September 16, 2008

Photo courtesy of the Global Council of Indian Christians
Severe burns mar the face of a girl who narrowly escaped with her life from a fire set by extremists.

A three-week wave of anti-Christian violence in the Indian state of Orissa has spread to other states, leaving believers fearing for their lives.

The violence that began nearly four weeks ago in Orissa quickly spiraled out of control. The attacks were touched off by fundamentalists who blamed Christians for the August 23 murder of a prominent Hindu extremist leader. A communist separatist group has claimed responsibility for the killing.

Even police have been targeted. Earlier today, the national newspaper The Hindu reported that four people were shot dead, including at least one police officer and a police station was set on fire in the riot-hit district of Kandhamal.

The unrest in Orissa has contributed to a spike in persecution reports from other regions of India:

• Mobs of Hindu extremists marched through the streets of Bangalore, a city in southern India, inciting the crowds to attack a Bible college, pastors, and numerous churches.
• An 80-year-old church in the central state of Madhya Pradesh was set on fire.

• In what appeared to be a planned series of attacks, extremist mobs unleashed violence on churches in three regions of Karnataka. At least 14 prayer centers were vandalized. Several believers were arrested by police attempting to break up a group of Christians gathered to protest the violence.
• In Kerala, extremists attacked churches in several regions, including a missionary school.
• A worship service in Jharkhand was followed by an attack by villagers, who beat the pastor and believers. Then the crowd dragged the Christians to a forest temple and threatened them if they did not renounce their faith in Jesus. Later they were handed over to police, and not released from jail for several hours.

Believers in Orissa continue to live in daily fear for their lives. In the worst-hit district of Kandhamal, our ministry staff report that at least 2,400 homes have been destroyed, as many as 35 people are dead, and at least 40 churches have been burned or vandalized.

In two nearby districts, our staff report at least 80 churches have been burned or torn down, over 60 villages have been impacted by the violence, and at least 6,000 believers are without adequate food or water.

According to Evangelical Fellowship of India, nearly 50 people have been killed in Orissa and 13,000 are in relief camps.

Mission India ministry partners have been severely affected by the more than three weeks of nonstop violence in Orissa:

• Church Planter students have been threatened and attacked.
Photo courtesy of the Global Council of Indian Christians
Even the deployment of troops has not restored peace to Orissa's Kandhamal region.
• Believers are being forced by extremists to renounce Jesus in "re-conversion" ceremonies.
• Churches have been ransacked and torched.
• Adult Literacy students faced threats and had their books confiscated.
• A literacy teacher's life was threatened if he continued to teach in his village.

Pray for India's believers

Believers in Orissa and across India need your prayers as they cling to their faith in Jesus during this frightening ordeal. Your gifts will also help support Mission India's three outreach programs: Bible-based Adult Literacy Classes, Children's Bible Clubs, and Church Planter Training.

For more information or to make a donation over the phone, please call us at (877) 644-6342.