In the village of Jamanya in Jalgaon district of the Indian state of Maharashtra, believers who refused to renounce their faith in Christ have faced intimidation and beatings, according to a May 20 report from Compass Direct. On May 15, eleven Christian families were summoned to a community court and accused of bringing bad luck on the village. They were asked to renounce their faith in Christ for the common good of the village. When they continued to refuse, a mob chased the Christian men from the village, beating those they caught. When the Christian men attempted to return that evening and found armed villagers outside their homes, they fled to neighbouring villages.
Angered at the escape of the men, the Hindu mob attacked the women and children the next day. Some of the children fainted from the beatings they received. In the meantime, the Christian men had reported the incident to the Yawal district police. In response, village officials filed complaints against the Christians, accusing them of forcible conversions and disrupting the peace.
According to Compass, two militant Hindu organizations, The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) and the Bajrang Dal, both have a strong presence in the Jalgaon district.
In Orissa State, the VHP has been actively pursuing restrictions on Christians. According to the Catholic news agency Zenit, the VHP is pressuring the government to dismiss all public workers, police and civil servants who are Christians. The VHP is also opposing a government ruling which gives equal rights to tribal Christians.
Pray for Christians throughout India who are facing opposition for their faith. Pray for protection for the families in Jamanya. Pray that government authorities will push for equal treatment for Christians.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, click here.
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