Believers in Madhya Pradesh attacked for refusing to 'reconvert'

Two believers were attacked recently by villagers in Madhya Pradesh for refusing to reconvert even as they continue to be ostracized.

Santu Prasad Barmaia and Kunjan Prasad Barmaia, both farmers and members of a Gospel for Asia church in Paralia village, Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, were attacked by a group of 12 villagers on October 19 and badly beaten up, Compass has reported.

According to Compass, the attack took place in the morning, when the two were on their way to their fields.

Though the names of the attackers were given to the police of Amarkantak police station, none of them have been arrested yet, sources close to the development said.

Police officials could not be reached for comment.

The source explained that villagers were angry with the Christians for declining to participate in Hindu rituals ever since they became believers four years ago. "The villagers had been persistently putting pressure on them to 'reconvert' to Hinduism," the sources said.

According to news reports, last year, villagers had even refused to allow the two believers, the only Christians in the village, to draw water from the village's one and only well to pressurize them to return to Hinduism. However, they refused to renounce their religion and dug their own well.

"Earlier, some miscreants vandalized a Hindu temple in the village and the blame fell on the Christians," the sources said. "Later, however, police investigation revealed that they had not done it. Yet the villagers continued to treat them with contempt."