Pastor, wife assaulted in Karnataka

A pastor and his wife were attacked by Hindu radicals on Friday at one of the villages in Chitradurga district within South Indian state of Karnataka, Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported.

Chitradurga : On 10 July 2009 at 9:30 a.m. a group lead by H R Kallesh assaulted Sharada, a pastor's wife, in Srirampura village, Hosadurga Taluk, Chitradurga district.

According to GCIC, the radical group led by H.R Kallesh attacked Pastor Nagaraj, 41 and his wife Sharada at Srirampura village, Hosadurga Taluk in Chitradurga district, on allegation that the couple was forcibly converted to Christianity.

GCIC said Pastor Nagaraj of 'Yesu Prarthana Alaya' has been serving the Lord in Sriampura village for the past few years. He often visits the surrounding villages sharing the love of Christ. Pastor Nagaraj and his wife Sharada have a small tea stall near their house which is looked after by Sharada.

Bangalore-based Christian advocacy group said, on 10 July 2009 Pastor Nagaraj had gone out and Sharada was working in the tea stall. At around 9:30 a.m. H R Kallesh and some others came to the stall and questioned Sharada about her faith. The radicals asked her how much money she got for converting to Christianity and abused verbally in vulgar language. They assaulted her accusing her of indulging in forceful conversion and threatened to burn her alive by locking her inside the house.

The Hindu radicals then proceeded to the Srirampura village police station and lodged a complaint against Sharada alleging forceful conversion.

Meanwhile Pastor Nagaraj heard about the incident and was asked to come to the police station. When Pastor Nagaraj and Sharada appeared before the police, the Hindu radicals beat up the pastor in front of the police. He sustained minor injuries on his face.

Later Pastor Nagaraj and Sharada went to the police station to lodge a complaint against the radicals but the police made them wait for a very long time not accepting the complaint. After the intervention of the Superintendent of Police, Chitradurga, the police officials accepted the complaint and released the pastor and his wife and provided them with police protection.

According to GCIC, after Orissa state, Karnataka is the state that recorded the most number of attacks against Christians last year.

Dr. Sajan K. George, national president of the Karnataka-based GCIC told COmpass Direct News earlier: "Karnataka ruled by the Hindu nationalist party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recorded at least 112 anti-Christian attacks across 29 districts in 2008."

The pastor and his wife have been attacked by Hindu radicals before in 2003 and 2008. Pastor Nagaraj and Sharada have two sons. "Please pray for their ministry and for protection," GCIC said.