One attack has taken place against an entire community of believers. Some local radicals forced the believers in the area to come to the village community hall. As the believers gathered, the villagers started beating them. While the Christians were being attacked, one of the believers called police, but the beatings continued. Christians in the area now live in intense fear.
During this incident, a girl went missing and so far, there is no news about her whereabouts. Even after a report was lodged with the police by the girl’s parents, the police took no action.
In perhaps the most serious incident reported during the lockdown, a girl named Jyothi* was shot by some extremists in the middle of April. While Jyothi and her family were inside their house, some unknown people forcefully entered and shot her in the arm and thigh. Given that Jyothi and her family had received threats already because of their Christian faith, the family believes the shooting was the work of religious extremists.
Reports like these are likely to be the tip of the iceberg. Open Doors local partners report that there are many incidents that are going unnoticed due to the lockdown, poor connectivity and resources.
An Open Doors local partner says, “There is no doubt this is a time of wilderness for many of us, and the thing about this pandemic and lockdown is that we don’t know where it’s going to lead, how long our time is going to be. It seems that one day proceeds to another and there’s no end in sight. India needs more prayers than ever during this time.”
This is why Open Doors has mobilized to bring emergency aid and help to persecuted believers in India. If you’d like to help, click here.
In the meantime, please join us in praying for our sisters and brothers in India. Pray that:
- God will protect His people
- God will ease the sickness and death from coronavirus in India and around the world
- Christians will be able to be salt and light, even in a very hard time and in in places where they are persecuted
- Believers will have opportunities to pray and read the Bible without being harassed or abused
- God will provide for His people who are starving and in need of financial help
*names changed for security reasons