September
16, 2014
A Christian couple in north-east India’s Bihar state needed hospital
treatment after Hindu extremists beat them and threatened to kill
them.
Shri Lal Khatiyan and his wife, Asha Devi, say a small group stormed
their home in Balwanazir, Kaliyanganj, accusing them of being pagans. They then
beat Khatiyan, attacking his wife too when she tried to intervene.
Later that day, about 100 Hindu extremists armed with clubs reportedly
took up positions on each corner of the village and threatened to kill any
Christian who left to try to file a police complaint. Extremists later held a
public meeting at which they resolved to kill the couple.
The number of attacks on non-Hindus has increased since the Hindu
nationalist BJP came to power in May’s general elections. Sources say there were
more than 600 attacks on Muslim and Christian groups in the first 100 days of
the new Government.
On the very day that Narendra Modi took power, extremists beat nine other
Christians in Balwanazir, to force them to deny Christ. They also sealed shut
the doors of the village’s evangelical church.
(Sources: Christian Today, Morning Star News) For a country profile about India, click here. Release
Int.
- Pray
