Christian Pastors Attacked in India; Dozens Injured
By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
MALKANGIRI, INDIA (Worthy News) – A Christian ceremony to bless farm crops in India’s eastern Odisha state turned into “a brutal assault,” leaving at least 30 Christians injured, 10 of whom were hospitalized with critical wounds, Christians said Thursday.
Sukra Madi, 52, one of the victims, collapsed unconscious and bloodied after reportedly telling his son, “I don’t think I will make it. I just want you to know that I will be with my Maker, and you should not worry for me.”
He was among several people rushed to the hospital following the June 21 attack in Kotamateru village in Odisha’s Malkangiri District, reported Morning Star News, a Christian news agency.
His condition is deteriorating, and he is in urgent need of surgery costing $1,600 to $1,700 – an amount the family cannot afford, Christians said.
Last month’s attack reportedly occurred after 20 Christian pastors from 15 villages gathered at the invitation of local Christian families for a Christian form of a traditional tribal “seed blessing” ritual.
Despite “verbal police permission” for the event, the pastors were ambushed by 30 to 40 villagers wielding axes, spades, knives, and sticks as they departed, according to Christian sources.
“They beat whoever they caught in a brutal manner,” added Pastor Manglu Madi, son of Sukra Madi, in published remarks. “Ten people threw a Christian on the ground and would climb on him, hitting him with legs, wooden sticks, knives, spades, axes, and whatever their hands could find.”
FORMAL COMPLAINTS
Pastor Somru Muchaki added that his “brother-in-law sustained deep cuts on his head in two places when he tried to protect me.”
Though police had been alerted, officers failed to intervene, he recalled. “We had videos, pictures, medical reports, and blood oozing wounds… but they chose not to [act].” There was no immediate known reaction from police to the allegations.
However, despite formal complaints and video evidence, no arrests have been made so far, Christians explained. Police instead pressured victims into a “compromise exploiting language barriers that left the victims unaware they were waiving legal rights,” according to church sources.
“This is the third time Christians have been attacked since 2014 in this village, and every time, police pushed for compromise,” said Pastor Muchaki, who added he previously suffered life-threatening injuries in an earlier assault. “I pray that another miracle would save my father this time.”
Following the violence, over 7,000 people rallied against the perceived police inaction on July 2, organized by the Odisha unit of action groups Rashtriya Christian Morcha, Malkangiri District Christian Manch, and Voice Against Hate.
Tensions escalated after protesters mockingly garlanded a local police inspector in a symbolic protest, according to Christians familiar with the situation. Authorities responded by filing criminal charges against 30 Christian leaders, including Bishop Pallab Lima, for “obstruction” and “unlawful assembly,” Worthy News learned.
Christian advocacy groups, including Open Doors, have consistently warned of what they view as “escalating persecution” in India, a mainly Hindu nation. The country ranks 11th on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of 50 nations where it says Christians face the most persecution.
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