Easter without peace for Christians in India as Hindu extremists unleash more violence

(March 27, 2013) Christians in some parts of India are victims of aggression and violence, even during Lent while they prepare for Easter - the Catholic Church’s greatest feast that celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord, said Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians – GCIC. He pointed to attacks that took place in March in eastern India’s Chhattisgarh State and in the southern Indian State of Kerala. The Christian leader launched an appeal to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) saying that this is the most important week of the year and the Christian minorities should have greater protection and security. He said on March 13 in Gadia, Chhattisgarh State, a group of Hindu fundamentalists accompanied by administrative personnel and police demolished a church, claiming it had been built illegally. The local community tried to intervene, but the group physically and verbally attacked the Christians, not sparing women and children. Before demolishing the church, the Hindu radicals and officials destroyed Bibles, musical instruments and pews, and then desecrated other sacred objects.
Earlier on March 10, hundreds of Hindu extremists attacked a prayer service of the Brethren Assembly Church, in a village in Trivandrum, Kerala, beating those present with wooden sticks, accusing them of practicing forced conversions. Stating that this anti-Christian sentiment bodes ill for a peaceful and solemn religious celebration of Easter, the GCIC appealed for protection from the state administration, to enable the Christian citizens of Secular India exercise their Consitutionally guaranteed Religious Freedom.
Source: Asianews