Pastor seriously injured in attack in Andhra Pradesh

Veiled men attacked a pastor on Sunday after the worship service, injuring the pastor who received nine stitches on his head and still in the hospital in southeast coastal state of Andhra Pradesh.

According to Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), the attack took place when Pastor Vanamala Parishuddam, his family and few believers were returning home after the Sunday service around 11.45 a.m. on Sunday from Yellareddygudam village, Narketpalli Mandal, Nalagonda district, Andhra Pradesh.

The report said four veiled radicals on two motorcycles stopped the Pastor on the way and started beating him with the wooden sticks. Few believers who accompanied the Pastor ran away. Pastor Vanamala was profusely bleeding and collapsed on the spot, GCIC stated.

GCIC said that after seeing the profuse bleeding of the pastor, the radicals ran away from that place and the Pastor's wife and other two believers carried the Pastor to Kaminani Hospital, near Narketpally, an administrative division in the district. The doctors recommended the Pastor to go to a bigger hospital in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh. The pastor was admitted to Gandhi Hospital; there he had 9 stitches on his head. Again the Pastor was redirected to get admitted at Kaminani Hospital - another Hospital in the city.

Pastor's condition is very serious and he is still under medical treatment in the hospital, GCIC, Christian advocacy group and the voice of the persecuted India Christians reported.

Pastor Vanamala's bother lodged a complaint against the radicals at Narketpalli Police Station on Monday, no arrest have been made so far.

According to GCIC, the 40-year-old Pastor Vanamala Parishuddam of Gospel Ministry has been ministering in Yellareddygudam Village for the past 4 years. About 30 families gather for the Sunday services. Pastor and his wife Prasanna are blessed with two children.

Bangalore-based GCIC has requested believers to pray for Pastor's early recovery.