Fresh Violence against Christians in India

Violence against Christians and Pastors is continuing to spread and increase. This despite Government assurances that the violence is contained and normalcy has returned. Initially, the violence was in the state of Orissa, but now, thanks to the Indian Govt. turning a Nelson’s eye to the deaths and destruction of Christians, their Churches and homes, Hindu activists in other states have taken the cue from Orissa and started violence against Christians.

In Karnataka, Churches have been targeted, congregations and Pastors have been attacked in Mangalore, Udupi, Devagiri. Many other churches are being forced to close down by local administrations citing a rule that no proper license is in place to run these churches.

In Tumkur, a district that is 90 km from Bangalore, a sting operation was conducted on a Pastor. A Hindu family was asked to call the Pastor to their home for prayer. The Pastor innocently visited the home and after praying for all the members of the family, he presented them a Bible. All this was recorded clandestinely and used as proof by the sting operators that the Pastor was engaged in conversion. The local police arrested the Pastor on the basis of this proof. Incidents like these are on the increase.

In Bangalore, a Christian missionary (Auto Raja by name) who runs a home for the homeless was arrested by the police on the basis of hearsay.

Christians have reason to feel victimized because there is no basis for allegations that Hindus are being enticed to convert to Christianity. Indeed if this was true, the population of Christians in India would not be stagnant at 2.4% even after 2000 years of St. Thomas brought Christianity to India. In contrast, the population of Muslims stands at 14%. (They came to India 700 years after Christianity entered India).

There is feeling of insecurity among Christians in India that is unprecedented since the formation of the Indian Republic. Congregations in churches all over India are praying for peace and goodwill, even as violence and atrocities against Christians are on the increase.