July 18, 2009:

Pastor, wife attacked in Karnataka

Hindu extremists beat a pastor, accused him and his wife of forceful conversion on July 10 in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

According to an EFI correspondent, Rev.Noel Kotian, at about 10:00 a.m, the extremists led by H R Kallesh barged into the tea stall attended by pastor Nagaraj’s wife Sharada and started questioning her about her faith.

The extremists verbally abused her and asked her the monetary incentive her family received in converting into Christianity and accused her and her husband of forceful conversion. They further threatened to burn her alive.

The extremists dragged Sharada to the police station and filed a police complaint against her. The pastor was also summoned to the police station and on his arrival, he was mercilessly beaten up by the extremists with the police standing as mere spectators, according to reports.

The pastor sustained minor injuries on his face.

The pastor also lodged a police complaint against the assailants and police enquiry is underway

The occurrence of such incidents has been frequent of late in Karnataka. Please pray for justice, for peace and religious tolerance in the state.

Rev. Dr. Richard Howell
General Secretary
Evangelical Fellowship of India
New Delhi, India