A small church was burned down in an arson attack by radical Hindu nationalists in Rayagada, Odisha on December 1.
Local Christians said the radicals had harassed the Christians community in Perigaon village at least a week before setting the thatch roof of the church on fire.
On November 24, RSS members disturbed the worship service led my pastor Bibhudan Pradhan, followed the Christians to their homes, seized their Bibles and religious literature and burnt them the same night.
The radicals warned the Christians not to hold any worship services in the village hereafter.
Just a week later, on December 1, the same radical group attacked the church in Perigaon and set the thatch roof on fire. Fearing the radicals, the church members escaped into the nearby jungle.
The next day, two Christians from the village reported the event to Rayagada police and filed an FIR against the radicals.
Currently, believers in Perigaon are under threat and facing a social boycott initiated by Hindu radicals.
