Hindu extremists disrupt prayer meeting in Rajasthan, beats pastor

A mob of Hindu fanatics attacked a pastor in Rajasthan and beat him severely for conducting a prayer meeting for the healing of the sick.

On March 7, Pastor Reginald Howell of Good Shepherd Community Churches was leading a prayer meeting along with other believers for healing the sick and disabled people in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, when suddenly, a mob of Hindu fundamentalists, shouting anti–Christian slogans stormed into the prayer hall and began attacking the pastor with iron rods and clubs.

Luckily, the pastor managed to escape with his life, and bleeding profusely, he approached the local police to register a complaint.

However, to his utter shock, the police refused to entertain his complaint and sent him away.

According to media reports, the local doctors also refused to tend to his injuries and give him First Aid as they feared violent attacks from the religious fanatics.

Finally, the pastor had to hire a taxi and left for his hometown where he received medical treatment.

The attack has been condemned by the local Christian community. "It is the duty of the government to provide security to minority communities when they are under threat from religious fanatics and anti–social elements," a spokesman for the All India Christian Council (AICC) said.

The state government of Rajasthan is ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, which, local Christian leaders have claimed, have given a free hand to the Hindu extremists to carry out wanton acts of atrocities on the minority Christian community.