Hindu fundamentalists attack Christians in Madhya Pradesh

February 22, 2013 - Two more anti-Christian incidents in central India’s Madhya Pradesh state illustrate the latest trend among Hindu fundamentalist groups denying the constitutional right to freedom of worship, falsely charging Christians of forced conversions. They are now attacking Christians in the privacy of their homes even though "praying in one's home is not a crime," said Sajan George, the president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). Pentecostal Christians were attacked in two separate incidents last Saturday and Monday. On Saturday, members of the Bajrang Dal and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) beat up Rev Isaac, the clergyman, who was leading a prayer meeting in the village of Gulai. They handed him over to police who kept him in jail overnight. On Monday, Bajrang Dal stormed the home of a man, Hiralal, in the village of Roshni, where they beat up Rev Iliyas Buck who was leading Bible studies. The attackers handed the clergyman to the police, charging him for forced conversion. He was eventually released a few hours later. Sajan George nothed that although the Indian constitution recognizes freedom of worship, incidents of the kind have become more frequent across the country. He urged for investigating the activities of armed militant groups to suppress illegal activities that threaten India's integrity and sovereignty.