Hindu extremists disrupt Christian convention in Chhattisgarh

A mob of Hindu fundamentalists disrupted a Christian convention for members of Gospel for Asia (GFA)–affiliated Believers Church in Chhattisgarh, February 20, accusing the organizers of forcibly converting people to Christianity.

Pastors Jamir Hansda, Karnapriya Bano and Bhushan Kour were leading the convention, which included several days of preaching and teaching.

Through his ministry in Chhattisgarh, Pastor Jamir has established 4 churches with a total membership of more than 400 people. He is also an area overseer with responsibility for 27 individual churches, a home Bible school and a bridge of hope center.

According to information obtained by Christian Today, the convention went on well till the final day when a group of Hindu radicals stormed the convention grounds and began stirring up trouble.

Accusing Pastors Jamir, Karnapriya and Bhushan of forcing people to convert to Christianity, the mob roughed up the believers present and threatened everyone with dire consequences.

The extremists also grabbed the pastors by their collars and tried to beat them up. However, several believers at the convention came to the aid of the pastors and spirited them away to a safe room in the convention hall.

Safe inside, Pastor Jamir and other pastors began to fervently pray to God to rescue them from the attackers. Soon thereafter, the extremists left the premises never to return again, leaving the believers and pastors free to conclude the meeting safely.

In another incident, a Hindu mob accused a pastor of forcible conversion, manhandling him and compelling him to leave his home.

Issuing death threats, February 25, supporters of the Hindu fundamentalist outfit, the Bajrang Dal, surrounded the house of India Mission Church Pastor T.N. Jose in Surgi village in Rajnandgaon district, Chhattisgarh and ordered him to vacate the premises immediately, warning that otherwise they would cut him to pieces.

The extremists also forced him to sign a statement that he had come to the village to convert people to Christianity and that he was leaving on his own will. Fearing for his life, Pastor Jose moved to his relative's house in a nearby town.

The following day, however, the extremists kidnapped his sister, who runs a medical clinic in Surgi village, and locked her in a room. They said they would not release her until they found out where the pastor was hiding, but she was released the same evening.

Local Christians have informed the police and demanded protection for the pastor and his family.