A group of extremists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked and beat eight students from Beersheba Bible College, a school affiliated with the Indian Pentecostal Church of God at Maraman, Chettimukku, on May 12.
The Bible college students were on their way to attend a funeral when the band of RSS extremists mounted on motor cycles descended on the group and assaulted them with knives and other sharp weapons. Local police have confirmed that the assault came without provocation and have pressed charges against the assailants.
Beershebea students Blessen Abraham, George Abraham, Binu Babu, R. Ravindran, Rajesh, B. Rony, T.E. Varghese, and Vinod were treated at a district hospital in nearby Kozhencherry for injuries sustained in the attack.
Babu and Blessen Abrahanm were admitted to the hospital because of the severity of their wounds. The pair was discharged yesterday. Varghese also required a hospital stay to recover from lacerations he suffered in the attack.
Rajesh narrowly escaped being blinded in one eye, according to sources. He received a serious wound just above the brow.
According to witnesses, the students were attending a funeral service of a former Pentecostal Church of God member. The attack occurred as the body of the deceased was being transferred from his home to the cemetery.
The students were walking from the house to a main road to catch a bus that would take them to the cemetery for the graveside service when two RSS extremists passed on a motorcycle and noticed them. The RSS pair evidently decided to stage the attack on the group of Christians, probably because their organization was meeting the same day nearby in Kozhencherry.
