YWAM worker attacked in Himachal Pradesh

A Christian worker belonging to the Youth with a Mission (YWAM) organization was allegedly attacked by a group of Hindu fundamentalists believed to be the Vishwa Hindu Parishad members.

It was reported by a local source to the ICC (International Christian Concern) that Kamal Kanta was beaten up by at least four VHP supporters on Monday in Kullu's main market place Akhara Bazar in the presence of his wife and two children.

"Kanta, along with his family, was attending a prayer meeting in a believer's house when four unidentified people came to the house and asked him to come out. As he came out with them, they all began beating and abusing him, accusing him of conversions," said the source to ICC.

The police however accepted the complaint but had not registered it. "It was recorded in our diary; we did not register a first information report (FIR),” Constable Ved Ram told ICC on phone.

Dainik Jagran, the local edition of a Hindi language daily published a series of reports with the headline 'Isaiyon ka gorakh dhanda' (Misdeeds of Christians) containing the picture that shows a trishul (trident –three–pronged spear – one of the signs of a Hindu God) piercing the cross and stains of blood.

The daily also has been publishing instigative stories maligning the local Christian community for the last two years. Several reports alleged that Christians eat beef and forcibly convert Hindus. These are some of the reasons imputed to the cause.

On December 30, 2006 the ruling Congress party government in Himachal Pradesh was compelled to pass an anti–conversion bill, by the Hindu fundamentalists. The bill was later approved by the state governor, but the rules have not yet been framed.

According to the census, Christians comprise less than point–one percent of the total population.