Pastor attacked in Delhi
Pastor Akbar, belonging to the Harvest Full Gospel Mission, was attacked by a group of about seven Hindutva radicals on July 5th, 2008 in a slum area near Shahabad dairy, Rohini, New Delhi.
According to the pastor, a prayer service was being conducted at around 8 pm in the evening when the radicals led by one Pandit Dhanlal Diwedi barged into the house and accused the pastor of forcibly converting the people.
The miscreants threatened the innocent Christians, of dire consequences if they did not stop the meeting immediately.
The extremists then proceeded to drag the pastor and other believers and assaulted them by punching and slapping them. Several women and children who were attending the meeting were also assaulted.
Pastor Akbar, told EFI that every Saturday they organize a cottage prayer meeting in the house of Brother Ramakant which is attended by around 10 -12 people.
SHO Mr. Hanuman S. Meena, informed EFI that an inquiry has been set into the matter and the victims had been sent the Maharishi Valmiki Govt hospital for medical check up. The police is trying to resolve the matter between the two parties and has called for a conciliation meeting.
This is the third such incident in which Christian gathering have been attacked by Pandit Diwedi.
Prayer meeting disrupted in Andhra Pradesh
A group of about 4 Hindutva extremists having affiliation to RSS attacked a prayer meeting on June 22, 2008 in Rangadampally centre 3 kms from Siddipet, Andhra Pradesh.
A prayer meeting was being conducted by Pastor Manikyam Rao, on the occasion of the birthday of a church member’s daughter Mr. Mallesham at around 7 to 9 pm. Around 10 Christians had come to attend the meeting.
Shouting anti Christian slogans the drunken RSS radicals barged inside the hall and disrupted the meeting.
The activist physically assaulted the Christians present and poured liquior on them and humiliated the believers .The radicals imperiled of dire consequence if they continued to conduct the prayer service in future.
When EFI spoke to the officials in the Siddipet (rural) police station, they informed us that the accused namely K.Gouda, Chandra, Prashnna and Bhanu had been arrested under Section 341,355,324,506,504 of the IPC. The FIR No. is 79/08. The accused have been released on bail.
Rev. Dr. Richard Howell,
General Secretary,
Evangelical Fellowship of India,
New Delhi, India.
Evangelical Fellowship of India (established 1951) is a charter member of World Evangelical Alliance an accredited NGO with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
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