Hindu militants attack strikes Lutheran Church at Jabalpur in India's central state of Madhya Pradesh

(16 June 2006) : In the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, St. John Lutheran Church at Jabalpur under the Gorakpur Police station area was attacked Friday by a group of Hindu anti-socials, as they began a three-day Bible workshop for its believers. The program was attended by about 27 participants from different parts of Jabalpur. Pastor Vijay Sethi of the Lutheran Church said, “It was a training program for the believers on Bible and Christian living, it had nothing to do with conversion and baptism,” he said. The Dharma Raksha Sena (Religious Protection Army) leader who led the attackers said, “It is an attempt to convert and we object any sort of forced conversion.” After recording statements of all the Christians involved, the Superintendent of Police Shrinivas Rao set them free but no case has been registered against anyone so far. Fr. Anand Muttungal, Spokesperson for the regional Bishops’ Council called it “A repetition of history. It was only on Thursday that the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Shivraj Sing Chauhan assured that all communities will be protected. Surprisingly, the hooligans have taken law into their hands, no sooner the CM made the statement. “It looks that the law and order of the state government is decided by the antisocial elements in Jabalpur. The local administration has not taken action against the antisocial elements,” Father Muthungal lamented.