Hindu extremists in India reportedly beat and tortured 29 Christians when they refused to convert to Hinduism.
The Christian Post reports that the Hindu extremists attempted to convert the Christians to Hinduism, but when they refused, the extremists beat them and drove them out of their homes.
According to Christian watchdog group Open Doors, “The villagers accused them saying – because of you our god and goddess are fleeing from our village. When they refused to forsake Christ they began to beat them."
"RSS activists [Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Hindu ultra-nationalist paramilitary group ed], the BJP and Bajrang Dal [youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, VHP] led by former district chief, threw stones at members of the community, attacked our women and broke the church lamps," added pastor Emmanuel Ariel.
The number of Christians has been growing in India, but persecution of Christians has been growing as well.
Human rights groups have been calling on India’s government to do more to protect Christians and other minorities. The police reportedly did nothing to stop the recent attacks.
“Sadly persecution of Christians in India is rising. Hindu extremists have been attacking Christians more frequently and more violently. This is happening across India and has increased by 34 percent since 2013. Christians are also finding they are prevented from getting certain jobs, buying land or developing land in certain areas and even distributing Christian literature has led to arrests in cities like Delhi," Open Doors said.
Publication date: June 8, 2016