India Christian persecution: Tribal animists violently attack Christians at home church meeting

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Around 30 tribal animists violently attacked Christians at a home worship service in India’s Chhattisgarh state on March 8, Morning Star News reported Tuesday. India currently ranks 10 on the Open Doors watch list of countries in which Christians are persecuted.

The March 8 attack took place at the home of Jaggu Kashyap in Surguda village, MSN said. Around 20 believers, including Methodist Church Pastor Baghel had come from the surrounding area to attend the worship service in Kashyap’s home. The mob of animists descended on the meeting, shouting in foul language as they set about physically attacking believers, five of whom received head injuries.

“Some church members caught hold of my hand and asked me to escape, but I said I will not leave the church members to face the tribulation alone,” Pastor Baghel told Morning Star News. “After I fell on the ground when struck twice on my head and my shoulders, church members pulled me aside, and I helplessly watched Jaggu and his family being beaten till blood oozed out of their bodies,” the Pastor said.

“It was only after all the members jointly intervened and somehow stopped their brutality that the attack stopped,” Pastor Baghel added.

At the end of the raid, the animists took Bibles, songbooks and furniture, and set fire to them outside the home, MSN said. They also badly damaged numerous motorbikes and bicycles that the Christians had traveled on. The animists also banned the Christians from the village.

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