Persecution News - India

Church leaders attacked in Andhra Pradesh
(December 31, 2008)

Christian found dead, believers apprehensive as Christmas approaches
(December 24, 2008)

Pastors beaten in Madhya Pradesh
(December 10, 2008)

Hindu militants offering rewards for violence against Christians in Orissa
(November 26, 2008)

Believers beaten in Mumbai
(November 19, 2008)

Relief workers arrested in Orissa
(November 12, 2008)

Priest dies after being beaten by Hindu militants in Orissa
(November 05, 2008)

Update: More homes burned; closure of relief camps planned in Orissa
(October 22, 2008)

Update: Christians continue to be maligned and attacked in Orissa
(October 15, 2008)

Christians beaten and arrested
(October 15, 2008)

More Christians killed in anti-Christian violence Orissa
(October 08, 2008)

Christians targeted by bombs in relief camps in Orissa
(October 01, 2008)

States warned by federal government to control anti-Christian attacks
(September 24, 2008)

Violence continues across India
(September 17, 2008)

Violence against Christians continues for third week in Orissa
(September 17, 2008)

Anti-Christian attacks spread across India
(September 10, 2008)

Christians continue to be terrorized by Hindu militants in Orissa
(September 10, 2008)

Attacks on Christians continue in Orissa
(September 03, 2008)

Anti-Christian violence erupts in Orissa, India
(August 27, 2008)

Priest martyred in Andhra Pradesh, India
(August 20, 2008)

Pastor and believers attacked in Karnataka
(August 13, 2008)

Hindu Militants Attack Christians in Karnataka
(July 23, 2008)

Christians Beaten, Accused of Forcible Conversion in India
(July 16, 2008)

Pastors Attacked, Accused of Forcible Conversion
(July 02, 2008)

Pastor Attacked in Madhya Pradesh
(June 18, 2008)

Christian Couple Beaten by Hindu Militants in Madhya Pradesh
(June 11, 2008)

Pastor Beaten; Churches Attacked
(June 04, 2008)

Christians Concerned over Hindu Nationalist Party Victory in Karnataka
(June 04, 2008)

Hindu Militants Attack Bible School Students in Karnataka
(May 28, 2008)

Christian Beaten by Militants in Maharashtra
(May 21, 2008)

Pastor Martyred in Jharkhand
(May 07, 2008)

"Anti-Conversion" Law Implemented in Gujarat
(April 30, 2008)

Pastors Beaten By Militants in Andhra Pradesh
(April 23, 2008)

Case against Pastor's Attackers Closed in Rajasthan
(April 23, 2008)

Christian Killed for Practicing "Black Magic"
(April 16, 2008)

Christians Attacked in Andhra Pradesh
(April 09, 2008)

Christian Family Attacked by Hindu Militants in Madhya Pradesh
(April 02, 2008)

Christian Couple under House Arrest in Srinagar
(April 02, 2008)

Two Nuns Attacked in Alibaug
(March 26, 2008)

New Anti-Conversion Bill Passed in Rajasthan
(March 26, 2008)

Christians Continue to Face Abuse
(March 12, 2008)

Update on Orissa
(March 12, 2008)

Christian Leader Beaten in Madhya Pradesh
(March 05, 2008)

Attacks on Christians in Madhya Pradesh
(February 27, 2008)

Pastor Beaten
(January 30, 2008)

Christians Attacked by Hindu Militants in Chhattisgarh
(January 23, 2008)

Two Christians Abducted and Beaten by Militants in Madhya Pradesh
(January 23, 2008)

Help Christians in Orissa, India
(January 16, 2008)

Believers Attacked During Prayer Meeting in Rajasthan
(January 09, 2008)

India Profile

Total Area:
3,287,590 sq. km

Population:
1,147,995,898 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnicity:
Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and Other 3% (2000)

Language:
English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language.

Religion:
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, Other 1.8% (2001)

Government Type:
Federal Republic

Capital:
New Delhi

Population Below Poverty Line:
25% (2007 est.)

Country Reports
Christians targeted by bombs in relief camps in Orissa Print E-mail
October 01, 2008


Christians have fled to refugee camps, hoping to find safety
Photo from AsiaNews
For the sixth week, VOMC continues to receive reports of violence against Christians in Orissa, India (see links at India's Country Report for more information). On the evening of September 29, Christians in three relief camps in Kandhamal district were the targets of bomb attacks. The explosions began at approximately 7:00 p.m. and went off in the villages of Nuagoan and Mahasinghi and the town of Baliguda. Hindu militants continue to use violence and intimidation against Christians in the camps in an attempt to forcibly convert them. Several Christian families in the camps succumbed to pressure from militants and "reconverted" to Hinduism in exchange for being allowed to return to their homes in Ladapadar village. Fresh violence is also persisting outside the Kandhamal camps, including burnings and bombings of homes and church buildings.

Pray for safety and protection for believers in the relief camps. Pray that Christians in India will stand firm in their faith despite severe pressure to deny Christ.

More information on the persecution of Christians in India is available here. A new video feature on the problems in Orissa is now available. Click here to view the video.

 
© 2009 - The Voice of the Martyrs Inc. (Canada) | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Website designed & hosted by JimBits Solutions