Persecution Update: Pastor assaulted, hospitalized

Hindu extremists, last week, roughed up a pastor for distributing tracts at a street side in Wayanad district, Kerala.

According to a Bangalore based advocacy group, Pastor T. T. Abraham of the Brethren Assembly Church, while distributing Christian literatures, was halted and manhandled by a group of RSS extremists.

The pastor who was later admitted to a nearby hospital was "injured on his neck, belly, and back," noted the group.

Abraham, who has been in the ministry for over 4 years, pastors a congregation of 50 members in Meenangady.

In another incident, Hindutva extremists on January 26, stopped a Baptism ceremonial and swatted Christians including women and children in Nashik, Maharashtra.

The radicals shouted Hindu slogans, "armed with cricket stems, iron rods and sticks, thrashed the believers," according to the Global Council of Indian Christians.

"The believers most of whom were residents of Dharmaji Colony in Satpur's MIDC area and belonging to the Navjeevan Sansthan Church group, alleged they were targeted because they were Christians," the report said.

Winston Karkade, who was injured in the attack, said "it was terrifying", adding that even children were not spared. A case has been registered against 10-15 unidentified men, said Inspector VK Sandane.