Hindus tie Indian pastor to tree, attack congregation for practising “foreign faith”

An Indian pastor, Manju Keralli, has been hospitalised following a severe attack he received from over 150 radical Hindu nationalists, International Christian Concern has reported.

Keralli was leading a worship service in his church in Bennakoop village in Gadag District of Karnataka on March 1 when a mob broke into the church and attacked.

The Hindu nationalists were wearing t-shirts with the inscription “Jai Sri Ram.”

The cleric said his attackers not only abused Christians but physically assaulted the congregants, and destroyed the church’s instruments and furniture.

“I fell to the ground after receiving several punches and kicks, Keralli said.

“Then they dragged me out of the meeting hall, tied me to a tree outside, and further released blows and punches.

“They took me to two other places in the same village and tied me to an electrical pole and a pillar in the marketplace. All the time they continued their physical harassment for more than three hours.

“Later, police arrived and took me to the police station. Even the police threatened me with foul language, saying that I don’t have right to live in this country as I am practicing foreign faith.”

Speaking on his state of health, the cleric said, “I am unable to sit, as there is an injury on my back. Doctors are suspecting that there could be fracture on my spine. I have severe pain in my lower abdomen and have difficulty breathing.

The police subsequently filed a criminal case against Keralli under India’s blasphemy law (IPC Section 295) but refused to file a case against the radicals that broke into the church and assaulted the worshippers.

“In addition to all these things, there is legal case filed against me that I am involved in illegal conversions,” he said.

ICC reports that Keralli has since gone into hiding having fled the Gadag district while seeking anticipatory bail for the false charges of blasphemy brought against him.

Attacks on pastors have recently been on the rise in India because of police inaction.

A local leader told ICC, “Across the entire state, the number of incidents have grown sharply because of the complicity of the police and the free hand given to Hindu radicals. This will make it even more difficult for Christians in the state.”

India ranks 10^th among 50 nations of the world where Christians are most persecuted, according to Open Door USA in a report released on January 15.