GFA team working on well-drilling project attacked

Hindu extremists attacked a Gospel for Asia (GFA) missionary working on a well-drilling project at a village in Jharkhand state on April 3.

Bala Nunwate along with ministry intern Vincey Rao was part of Jesus Wells project which aims to offer free supply of drinking water in deprived places.

The head of GFA, KP Yohannan, says the mob attacked Christians after accusing them of luring people to convert to Christianity.

According to the Mission Network News, the mob belonging to a well-known, violent anti-Christian group tried to attack Bala. He managed to escape from their grasp, but the mob grabbed Vincey and the drilling crew chief.

"The attackers badly beat Vincey and forced him to sign a statement saying that he was an outsider who came to the village to convert people to Christianity. They threatened to take his life unless he signed the paper," the report said.

Jharkhand is one of the states in India where anti-conversion law exists and most times is used against Christians on false charges. Anyone found guilty of forcing an individual to change religion can be punished with a two-year jail term, a fine of up to 25,000 rupees (US$560).

Says Yohannan, "Through prayer and hard work, we saw breakthroughs. I'm told now that they had to abandon this particular project. But they'll keep praying and hoping that God will do a miracle. They hope to be able to go back and complete this project because it is going to help so many people."

According to the Christian leader, the trouble will continue and is not on religious reasons. "The truth of the matter is that these persecutions are happening. I don't think it has anything to do with conversions. The real issue is a power struggle."

GFA officials filed a complaint with the police on the attack and also got the drilling equipments returned after meeting with the superintendent of police.