Bangalore Pastor kidnapped after escaping murder attempt two days earlier

In heightened attacks on Christians in the country, a Pastor in Bangalore city has been kidnapped two days after escaping a murder attempt.

On Saturday night, the 25th August 2007, Pastor Mark Jaikumar 43, founder pastor of Devine Gospel Church with 65 orphans under his ministry’s care, was allegedly kidnapped at around 8:00Pm near his residence in Chelekere (Kalyan Nagar), near the Ring Road in Bangalore city. The Pastor is untraceable when the news reached here.

A formal complaint was lodged with the Hennur cross police station in the city limits of Bangalore. (Police Station phone No. 080–25442250)

An attempt to murder the Pastor was made two days earlier on Wednesday, the 22nd August.

On Wednesday the 22nd August, at about 10:00Pm in the night the pastor along with his wife and some believers from Bangalore visited the orphanage for their weekly evening prayer with the inmates. While the prayer was on, a group of about 5 Hindu radicals rushed into the Orphanage and kidnapped the pastor after tying his mouth with a piece of cloth. The attackers then took the pastor to a nearby mango garden.

They stripped him and beaten him up badly all over his body. After beating him, one of the attackers took a big stone to crush pastor's head. Suddenly, the attackers saw a motor bike approaching them. Thinking that someone is following them, the attackers left the pastor and ran away.

The pastor with great difficulty and pain managed to reach the orphanage and informed the other members. He is still suffering from internal injuries, swelling etc. The first aid was given in a local village hospital.

On 23rd morning, the pastor visited Doddabalavangala Police Station and lodged a complaint. The police department is taking all necessary steps to nab the culprits.

Pastor Mark Jaikumar founded Devine Gospel Church 21 years ago and has about 250 believers. He has started a branch of his ministry in the year 2000 in Sasulu village near Dodbalapur, about 55 kilometers from Bangalore. He is managing an orphanage with about 65 orphans. He is also the pastor of Rays of Peace Ministry Church Bangalore,

Pastor Jaikumar family consists of his wife Francine Mark 39, daughters Jennifer 18, Jessica 15, Jennus 11, &, Joyce 3.

Christians in the city are praying for the safe return of Pastor Mark Jaikumar.

An Update:
Pastor Jaikumar was freed after GCIC members intervention