Hindu fundamentalists prevent pastor from building church in Andhra Pradesh

Hindu fundamentalists are obstructing to the construction of a church in Andhra Pradesh and have threatened the pastor with dire consequences if he failed to heed their warnings.

Pastor KP Issac has been working at Vanaparthy town in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh for the last five years.

Hailing from Kurnool district, he came to work at the town following a vision he reportedly experienced.

Along with the help of other believers, the pastor bought a piece of land for Rs. 2,00,000 (US$ 4450) to build a church. Subsequently they applied for the municipal permission and paid the necessary fees.

After receiving the permission from the municipal authorities, when they commenced the construction work, a group of local Hindu fundamentalists came and, shouting anti–Christian slogans warned the believers to stop the construction without providing any reason.

Although the believers showed to the Hindu radicals that they had obtained permission from the municipal authorities for the construction, the Hindu activists stood their ground, threatening the believers with dire consequences if they failed to heed their warnings.

Fearing trouble, the pastor, along with other believer, went to the municipal office for clarification.

The officers called for a meeting to sort out the issue but the meeting was repeatedly put off on flimsy grounds.

As this continued for some time, the believers finally decided to go ahead with the construction work only to be stopped by the activists time and again.

Exasperated, when the pastor approached the municipal authorities again, the officers refused to look into the matter, saying, "Go and file a case. We cannot help you anyway."

The pastor has now approached the All India Christian Council (AICC) for guidance and help. The Council is consulting others to find a solution to the problem.