House churches attacked in Himachal Pradesh, police refuse to investigate

Two house churches were attacked by unidentified Hindu fanatics at Shirad Valley and Krotal Village in Manali district of Himachal Pradesh, April 9, while the Easter Sunday services were being conducted.

According to information obtained by the All India Christian Council (AICC), a group of 50–60 Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) supporters forcibly barged into the room and sat among church members while worship led by Pastor Yona Babu at Shirad Valley was going on.

Subsequently, one of the VHP activists stood up and started abusing Pastor Babu with false allegations of force and fraudulent conversion. "They insisted that I denounce my Christian faith and forced me to burn the Bible inside the church," said Pastor Babu.

When Pastor Babu refused to burn the Bible and denounce his Christian faith, the mob started beating him. He was severely beaten and was rendered unconscious.

The VHP mob then warned other believers to denounce their Christian faith otherwise they would face the same consequences. "Church members were strong in their faith and they testified the reason why they were following Jesus," recalled Pastor Babu.

The mob finally left after seizing some church musical instruments.

In another incident, apparently, the same VHP mob stormed another house church at Krotal near Manali and disrupted the prayer meeting. The mob manhandled the believers, warning them to stop gathering or face dire consequences.

AICC state secretary, Rev. Sam Abraham, subsequently discovered that Pastor Babu and found out that he did not register any complaint in the police station as he did not have any affiliated church body to help him.

Later, with the initiative of the AICC, Pastor Babu went to Kullu Police Station to lodge a complaint against the culprits but it was reported that the police had refused to entertain the complaint.

Subsequently, a complaint letter addressed to the District Collector of Manali was submitted.

On enquiry, the Station House Officer (SHO), Sarwan Chandel of Kullu Police Station, pretended ignorance and later he told the AICC that the District Collector has instructed him to enquire into the matter.

However, in spite of instructions from the District Collector, no police action has been taken so far to trace and arrest the culprits.

"When any allegation is made against Christians, police immediately take action but the case is different when Christians complain," said Rev. Abraham, expressing frustration.