Beaten Missionary in Assam succumbed to death

Hemanta Das, a Missionary in Guwahati, the capital city of Assam was beaten viciously by a group of unknown people believed to be the members of a religious fanatic group.

Das, an Assamese convert, was once a member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) but later after clasping Christianity became the member of Guwahati Baptist Church. Reports from "The Council of Baptist Churches" say that, Das became the first Assamese martyr.

Although he was beaten and injured on 28th June 2007, he succumbed to death after four days on 1 July 2007.

Amzad DeCruz, the Executive Director of the Resource Centre under Elohim (RESCUE) said that Das had been warned by the radical groups to face dire consequences if he tried converting people to Christianity.

General Secretary of Council of Baptist Churches in North East India, Dr Ngul Khan Paul, said a murder case had been lodged in the local police station but culprits are yet to be traced.

It was reported that in the recent past, heinous deeds against the Christian minority in Assam have increased.

Meanwhile, AICC National Secretary of Public Affairs, Sam Paul, has written to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, urging to book the killers of Das and ensure enhanced security to the Christian minorities in the State.