Hindu radicals attack Christian prayer meeting in Bihar

Activists of the Hindu fundamentalist outfit, Bajrang Dal, disrupted a Christian prayer meeting held in Sasaram, Rohtas district, Bihar, January 28, 2007, and attacked the believers, accusing them of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.

According to news obtained by the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), about 40 masked men disrupted the meeting, beating up people and also burning books and leaflets.

Shouting anti–Christian slogans, the unidentified men made it known that they were against the conversion of Hindus to Christianity.

When contacted by the Christian Legal Association of India (CLAI), the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Sasaram, K.K. Sharma confirmed that a case has been registered against Shivnath Choudhary and eight other Bajrang Dal activists and that they would be arrested soon.

According to sources close to the development, the Bajrang Dal leaders were probably provoked by the recent conversions of Dalit families to Christianity in the area.

"One of the injured, Mr. Umesh Kumar, a resident from Kharghar, was attacked primarily because many incidents of conversion have been taking place in this vicinity," Rev. Richard Howell, general secretary, EFI, said.

The EFI has urged Christians to pray for the safety of the Christians in the area.