Worship service disrupted in Uttarakhand

Hindu extremists allegedly from the Bajrang Dal disrupted the Sunday worship service of Ministry of the Gospel in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand.

According to Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) correspondent, Rev. Madan Rana, Hindu extremists on Oct. 25 barged into the worship service conducted by Pastor Victor Masih and beat him up.

The extremists threatened the believers that they will continue to attack them if they conduct future Christian meetings and that they will forcefully perform Hindu rituals to convert them into Hinduism.

The enraged extremists tore up the Bibles and took all Christian literature. They also took away the believers mobile phones and threatened to damage their vehicles parked outside.

In another incident, suspected Hindu extremists with their faces covered attacked Pastor Pavithra Kumar of Beersheba Church of God on October 25 in Masturi, Madhya Pradesh.

EFI Correspondent Akhilesh Edgar reported that Pastor Kumar was attacked by 10 masked men who arrived on the spot by motor bikes armed with hockey and wooden sticks.

The extremists summoned the pastor out to the road and they started beating him with their fists and sticks.

The pastor fled to the church and managed to close the church doors on the extremists; Kumar was left with injuries on his head, chest, hand and neck.

The Christians lodged a police complaint and police investigation is underway

EFI requested prayers for "peace in Madhya Pradesh where Christians in the state have suffered increased attacks after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came into power."