Persecution Watch March 11, 2011

Thanksgiving Worship Meeting Disrupted in Unnoa, Uttar Pradesh

Hindu extremists allegedly from the Bajrang Dal on 28 February barged into a Thanksgiving Worship Meeting and ordered the Christians to stop their prayer meeting in Digpalpur, Unnoa, Uttar Pradesh.

Our correspondent reported that at about 11 a.m, about 20 extremists storm the prayer meeting,verbally abused Pastor Ganesh Kumar and the church members, urging them to stop their meetings or face dire consequences.

Some believers called for help and the village head, Mr Manohar Lal and four people reached the house-church and gave their support to the pastor. The village head was reported as saying to the extremists that the Christians were only conducting their prayer service and that they were not involved in any illegal activity.

Thereafter peace was restored between the two parties, reported our correspondent.

Praise God for his intervention and pray for all the members of the church.

Pastor, 1 believer arrested in Tumkur, Karnataka

Karnataka police on 6 March arrested two pastors for “forceful conversion” after Hindu extremists lodged a police compliant against them in Gubbi, Tumkur, Karnataka.

According to our correspondent, at about 10:30 a.m. the extremists forcefully entered the Sunday worship meeting of “Spirit Filled Church” and ordered Pastor (s) Mathew and Jose to stop the service. The extremists started ransacking the church, took Bibles and other literature.

Thereafter, the extremists called Gubbi police station and lodged a complaint against the Christians. The police arrived at the spot, confiscated Bibles, gospel literature and took the two pastors to the station.

The police detained the Christians in the station till about 9 p.m. and charged them under Sections 295A/296/505/298 & 298A of the Indian Penal Code . The Christians were later produced before the magistrate.

The Magistrate after studying the case released the two pastors on a temporary basis. Police investigation is underway.

Christian cemetery, Statue of Christ Destroyed in Mysore, Karnataka

Miscreants on 10 March defiled a Christian cemetery and desecrated the Cross and statue of Jesus Christ in the outskirts of Mysore city, Karnataka.

The attackers damaged the tombstones , removed the Cross and pulled down the image of Jesus Christ. Mysore police registered a case against the unidentified assailants and investigation is going on.