Hindu extremists returned to the Gospel Echoing Missionary Society (GEMS) compound in Rohtas district, Bihar state on Sunday, September 25. As in a previous attack on August 31, they severely injured several Christians. This time, one man received a spinal injury that left him partially paralyzed.
"About 16 people came from the nearby villages of Shankarpur and Bhedibigha at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and broke open the gate of the compound," a representative of GEMS told Compass. "They pulled out some of the GEMS staff [from the compound] ... and brutally beat them. They also robbed them of their belongings before throwing them into the fields."
The mob hit a Christian doctor, Ambrose Christopher, around the head and hands, breaking one of his fingers. They took another man, Stephen Shankar, to nearby Bhedibigha village and brutally beat him before throwing him into a field. His motorcycle and other belongings were also destroyed.
Still another man was left with a serious nosebleed after being punched in the face. The most serious injuries, however, were sustained by Kirupakaran Shankar, recently married.The extremists injured his spinal cord, resulting in the loss of movement in one leg.
At press time, all four men were receiving treatment at the mission hospital inside the GEMS compound.
GEMS, the largest indigenous Christian missionary agency in Bihar, is based in Sikaria village, Rohtas district, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) away from the state capital, Patna. Around 100 families - and a total of 900 children - live at the compound, which contains a school, student hostel, orphanage, hospital and other social service facilities.
A mob that swelled to around 800 people had previously attacked GEMS on August 31, injuring at least 12 Christian residents and holding the compound under siege for three days.
