INDIAN CHRISTIANS UNDER ATTACK

Churches have been torched and Christians murdered in waves of brutal attacks by Hindu militants in India. On 24 December, mobs of radical Hindus attacked Christian churches throughout the state of Orissa burning churches, beating Christians, looting homes, schools, medical centres and clinics run by Christians.

According to WorldNetDaily and Compass Direct, the All Indian Christian Council has documented over 1,000 violent attacks on Christians in India during the last year, 2007. In Orissa state’s Kandhamal district another 800 attacks were reported in the last week of 2007. At least 730 homes and 95 churches were burned.

Hindu extremists were reported to have launched simultaneous attacks on many churches and homes in coordinated bombings, destruction and looting, with mobs with guns and knives attacking Christians gathered for worship. The AICC Report revealed that just in one area, around the Barakhama village, 415 of the 450 homes belonging to Christians were burned. One Christian, Bhogra Naik of Barakhama was “cut into three pieces” by the Hindu militants who also destroyed his home.

Babu Joseph, of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, stated: “What is most distressing is the regularity at which these attacks are meticulously, and almost clinically executed in order to hurt the Christians. In all these instances of atrocities against Christians it was proved beyond doubt that some right wing Hindu organizations were behind them; they indulge in unhindered hate campaigns…”

Gospel For Asia President, K.P. Johannan reported on the terror campaign against Christians in Orissa state. “This is the same state where missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were martyred. The believers know they will face opposition.” Graham Staines was an Australian missionary who was brutally murdered, along with his sons, by a mob of militant Hindus. Gospel For Asia also reported that their missionary leader in Orissa, Matish Junni was attacked. “The mob beat Matish and shaved his head. They then mockingly paraded him around the village, shouting slurs against him and other Christians. They also forced Matish to go to their religious temple” and vandalized the GFA church building project.

India Gospel Outreach reported widespread mob violence and arson in Brahminigaon. Hindu militants burned Christian schools, medical centres, clinics and churches and attacked congregations with guns, spears, axes and other traditional weapons. Thousands of Christians have lost their homes. Hundreds of Christians are missing. The number of dead is not yet known. The India Gospel Outreach reports that Orissa state has some of India’s strongest anti-conversion laws.

Gospel for Asia reports that GFA missionaries Maliik Hembrom and Anup John were attacked by fanatics, and a teenage girl and her mother were beaten for converting to Christianity. When Sonia Devi, a 14 year-old student in Jharkhand, prayed to the Lord Jesus for the healing of her father, she saw her father, Samsong, miraculously healed. Sonia and her parents committed their lives to Christ and Sonia was baptized on 5 January.

Some Hindu extremists in the village then barged into their home and dragged Sonia and her mother, Vineeta, to the local Hindu temple and subjected them, against their will, to a purification ritual designed to mark a person’s official return to Hinduism. They also attacked the GFA missionaries that they held responsible for this family’s conversion.

Compass Direct News identifies Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, the leader of the World Hindu Council (Vishwa Hindu Parishad–VHP) as a key instigator of the co-ordinated mob attacks on Christians. For over a decade Saraswati has opposed Christians and missionary work in India.

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands, 7725
Cape Town, South Africa

Tel: (021) 689-4480
Fax: (021) 685-5884

admin@frontline.org.za

Source Url: http://www.frontline.org.za

Posted By: Jan
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Author of: Government by Deception

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Date Posted: Sunday 27-Jan-2008
G/day Bill the Biker
The killing of Christians is also going on in Indonesia in a big way and their government is turning a blind eye. They didn't however turn a blind eye to the five billion dollars plus that Australian infidel taxpayers gave Indonesia after the tsunami. It was interesting to note how little aid the rich Muslim oil states gave to Hindu and Muslims countries that were effected by this disaster.
Your missing the major point that I was making, why are we in the Western world giving aid to countries that do "bugger all" to stop persecution of religious minorities and women, these same countries are always attacking the Western World.
Have a look on the web for info on the size of the Indian and Pakistani Defence Force, these corrupt countries don't give a shit about about their starving masses. Bill an atom bomb or jet fighter doesn't grow crops or pump water or teach a kid to read, these countries should get their priorities right!

Bob the Aussie
Sydney
Australia

Date Posted: Sunday 27-Jan-2008
Whatever your views, whether Hindu, Muslim or Christain, whatever your views - Bob the Aussie - of the government - these corrupt cultures! - NO peoples of ANY kind in India - or wherever as a matter of fact - should be treated the way the Christians in this article in Orissa have been treated. It's despicable, it's vile, low and it seems, murderous.

NO homes or churches or God help us PEOPLE should be torched. The same should apply in all countries btw, even in Iraq and other places where atrocities are perpetuated and accepted as facts of 'War'.

The reality of India is - and often has been - far harsher than the 'Gandhyites' would have us believe. Crazy mobs of one kind or another - whether 'popular' or government sanctioned - have too often brought great shame to this otherwise quite wonderful and bizarre country.

Bill the Biker
London
UK

Date Posted: Sunday 27-Jan-2008
Its a shame that you sound as though you have so much contept for the uk, maien. Maybe I read it wrong! You can't simply blame everyone in the UK for whats happening over there on a few bad decisions made by a minority few. We're all in the same boat here. We did have a goverment elected by the people for the people but now because of globalism and the banking elite decisions are no longer made for the people, just for the rich. If we don't come together now and fight this evil, then by the time the big one comes about it will be too late to fight back. As for the wests fault for introducing bombs to india... india had feudal tribes long before the west got onto the scene. Its like calling the kettle black. But it still doesnt make it morally correct either way.

I just hope we all realise what we need to do before its too late!

Sean
uk

Date Posted: Wednesday 23-Jan-2008
Many converts from Hinduism to Christianity are from the much hated lower caste Hindus. It's easy to pick on them because the higher caste Hindus don't consider them human to begin with. As with most religious disputes this is class warfare, not a religious war.

Thomas

Date Posted: Wednesday 23-Jan-2008
Yeah so what. Christians have been commiting atrocities for over 1500 years now. Now its their time to pay. What about all the Hindus who are persecuted and tortured in Russia? You never hear about that. Christians missionaries in India are trying to use food to manipulate starving hindus into converting, thats what they get. All religions make me want to puke anyways...

Captain Osirus

Date Posted: Monday 21-Jan-2008
This news hurts me as a half christian/Muslim becuase the western news agencies like the BBC,CNN etc are keen to report on terrorism in the mid-east but are not keen to report on the massacre and persecution of Indian christians and Indian Muslims by Radical hindu terrorists.

John
UK

Date Posted: Sunday 20-Jan-2008
Hi Maien,
I disagree with you about India's riches.

In his book "Empire Wars", Professor Keegan from the UK wrote about the downside of Colonialism. Colonialism cost European countries a lot of money. Colonies did not make much money. Often they cost more than they were worth.

India was a case in point. I'm sure you've heard of the Opium wars? Basically, Britain had to keep the drug traffic flowing into China in order to off-set the cost of maintaining India.

Jan Lamprecht
Johannesburg
South Africa

Date Posted: Sunday 20-Jan-2008
the killings are wrong. we know that. I need to remind Bob from Australia that his type of rationalising is also wrong. you cannot make snap judgements. Keep in mind Bob, that India was the more successful venture for Western imperialists and colonizers. It was Indias wealth that funded the British takeover of the world. and allowed for the christian ideals of colonisation. (theft of land and resources and killing of the local population) I would propose that perhaps there may be a long-term history to the problem. after all, christian missionaries have a left a long history of many abuses, thefts and deaths. One cannot fairly decide that such and such is happening based only on single articles. This article has been written specifically to develope a mistrust of Hindus. Interesting. Hindus are traditionally non-violent (remember Gandhi?) and there must be a lot more going on than what this article is relating... if ... it is real live Hindus doing this kind of ugliness. In that case...we know that India has been working hard to join her western masters in their ways. I guess she has succeeded. remember Bob, from australia.... who brought the current lifestyle attitudes of 'buying bombs and killing anyone in their way', to India.

Maien

Date Posted: Sunday 20-Jan-2008
I agree with Bob the Aussie: Orissa state wants to protect the militants who do acts of violence against the Christians, so be it. Clear out.
When these same folks turn around and ask for western Christian dollars etc say "NO!"
There are plenty of people around the world who would appreciate hearing the word of Christianity so, move on and help these other folks around the globe.

Patricia
East Fishkill
USA

Date Posted: Saturday 19-Jan-2008
Let me get this right, these Indian Hindu's have been putting their hands out to the Christian Western world for over fifty years asking us for aid in the form of food, education, medicine & building materials etc. to feed and shelter their starving masses.
At the same their morally corrupt government has been building atomic bombs, buying nuclear subs and advanced jet fighters,developing ICBM rockets and tanks whilst millions of their people live in terrible poverty.
Their government does nothing to protect a peaceful religious minority in their own country, yet is very quick to call other countries rascist, WHY are we in the Christian world helping these corrupt cultures?

Bob the Aussie
Sydney
Australia

Date Posted: Saturday 19-Jan-2008
May God forgive them totally and change their hearts.

john
prince george
canada

Date Posted: Wednesday 16-Jan-2008
Read Hindu unity .org to get an idea of the Hindu National and religious feelings.

aubrey