Hindi Nationalists Attack Church of the Nazarene
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
NEW DELHI (Worthy News)– A mob of Hindu nationalists attacked the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene at Sehkari Nagar in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on July 16, according to AsiaNews.
The mob — armed with hockey sticks and mason’s hammers — assaulted Pastor R.C. Paul during a Bible study and attacked any Christians trying to shield him from the mob.
After their assault, the Hindus destroyed the cross on the church roof and hoisted an orange Hindutva flag in its place.
“The situation in Uttar Pradesh is alarming,” Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, told AsiaNews. “The tiny Christian community that lives here is very vulnerable to attacks, which are never provoked, from Hindu fundamentalists. These people take the law into their own hands and attack the faithful, places of worship and religious functions. The Church of the Nazarene has been here since 1991 and has always given help and hope to the people.”
“Christians are attacked even in their private homes. They are not doing anything illegal or unconstitutional, but are beaten in hatred of the faith. The Global Council of Indian Christians appeals to the National Commission for Human Rights: do something against the growing intolerance that affects the Christian community and the faithful, give security to them and their places of worship”.