Just a day after the announcement of the victory of the ruling BJP party and its coalition, a serious attack on a Christian gathering has left two church leaders with serious injuries. It is feared to be the beginning of a new wave of persecution.

In the latest incident, a group of Christian leaders from the Filadelfia Fellowship Church of India, a registered denomination, were attacked by members of the Hindu fundamentalist party, VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad), on 8 Oct 1999 in the town of Dahod in the North East region of the state of Gujarat. Rev.Punnoose and Paul Mathews suffered head and stomach injuries in the attack. Nine Christian leaders, who were arrested immediately following the incident, have been charged for converting Hindus to Christianity.

The incident took place when a mob of religious fanatics belonging to the VHP stormed the building as the Christian leaders met for a leadership seminar organised for local Christian pastors. Accompanied by members of the local police, the Hindu militants shouted "Jai, Shri Ram" (victory, to Shri Ram, one of the Hindu Gods) as they began pushing and slapping the assembled believers, forcing them to chant anti-Christian slogans, tearing their Bibles away, and beating them with sticks. The mob shouted all kinds of threats and curses at the gathered Christians.

Finally, nine of the Christian leaders were dragged into a police van which was waiting outside, and taken away. They are believed to have been charged with 'trying to convert Hindus to Christianity'.

In an interview with CSW, one of the victims, Paul Mathews, described his ordeal in the following words. "After they attacked us, we were taken to the police station for no apparent reason. We did not even try to resist when we were attacked because we knew the police were with them. In the police station we were not tortured, but cramped in a cell with no food or water for 8 hours. No explanation was given of the offence we were booked under, and before releasing us on bail the station officer asked us to sign papers we were not allowed to read. He wanted us to say that we were trying to convert Hindus during the meeting which everybody knows is not true at all."

When family members and friends of the Christian leaders went to seek bail at the police station the official informed them that the detainees had been taken away to other place - but would not say where. As it transpired, they were held in a cell in the police station for 8 hours.

Bail was finally granted, but charges of converting Hindus and involvement in anti-national activities, under a yet unknown offence of the Indian Penal Code, still stand against them, and they have been asked to appear in court.

India's Christian leaders have claimed police connivance in the majority of incidents of persecution of Christians in the Gujarat state in the last 2 years. These claims have been repeatedly refuted by the BJP leadership.

This latest incident, which took place with the active participation of police, reveals a more worrying agenda. Many Indian Christian leaders feel that the BJP's recent victory will result in another wave of attacks against Christians in Gujarat, similar to the one witnessed on the eve of Christmas last year in which more than 20 churches were destroyed and a number of Christians injured. It is reported that immediately after the election victory VHP activists in Gujarat began celebrating by shouting,

"We will, by all means, wipe out Christianity!"

Dr Simon Qadri of CSW adds, "The BJP leadership needs to be held directly responsible for any attack or maltreatment of Christians, as they have consistently failed to take adequate measures to protect religious minorities in the country."

India Christian Partnership
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New Persecution in India
News Release for ICP 2000
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ICP 2000 - A Report

 

 

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July 22, 2000