India persecution; Christian women attacked by family of Sikhs

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Five Sikhs in Punjab, India physically attacked a widowed mother and her daughters on June 20, because the women are Christians, Morning Star News (MSN) reported on August 4. The five attackers are members of the same family; three of the perpetrators are in jail pending trial.

Having become Christians in 2016, the Christian family were on their way home from an evening worship service when they were confronted by the family of Sikhs led by Manjeet Singh, MSN reports. Singh started the attack by slapping and hitting the Christian mother, 48-year-old Munesh Devi. Singh’s son 22-year-old Monu, and his younger brother Sikander then joined in by violently attacking the women. Singh’s wife and daughter took part in the attack as well.

One of the Christian women assaulted was Meenu Kaur Tank, who was taken to hospital after losing consciousness during the attack. “The doctors said that she is in a state of shock and thus has lost her voice,” area pastor Vishnu Dev told MSN about Meenu. “It took almost a month for her to begin to speak.”
Further describing the attack, Pastor Dev said: “A man belonging to the attacking family attempted to choke one of the daughters and then stripped her of her clothes. He then turned to the other daughter and caught her by her throat, trying to kill her, until she fell unconscious.”

The three male attackers were placed in jail to await trial. A lower court has rejected bail applications made by Manjeet Singh and Monu; Sikander Singh has applied for bail in the High Court. A hearing for Sikander Singh has been set for November, MSN said.

Meanwhile, MSN reported on August 4, the Christian family has continued to be threatened by the Sikh family’s relatives and pressure is mounting for them to leave their village. India ranks 10 on the US Open Doors 2021 Watch List of countries where Christians are persecuted.

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