Indian Christians Homeless after Recent Burnings
The homes of a group of Christians in India were recently burnt, leaving a large number homeless and some seriously injured.
The homes of a group of Christians in India’s Orissa state were recently burnt, leaving a large number homeless and some seriously injured.
On Nov. 20, in the Christian community of Gandahati village in Orissa’s Gajapati district, fifteen homes were burnt down by Hindu extremists while the Christians were attending church service, reported Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) based on information from its partner organization in India – the All India Christian Council (AICC). The attacks left six people seriously injured and a large number of people homeless.
The incident is estimated to have caused about one million rupees, or approximately $21,600, worth of damage. The homeless Christian families are in urgent need of relief including food, clothing and shelter.
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“Surprisingly, eight Christians from the village have been arrested by the police and are being held in custody, following the attacks against their community,” CSW wrote.
In another case, earlier in the month on Nov. 10, an Indian pastor was beaten and arrested after performing a baptism ceremony for allegedly forcibly converting Hindus to Christians, the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported.
“Please pray for these prisoners, their families, and for those who lost their homes and belongings during the arson attacks,” said the EFI. “Please also pray for those who committed the attacks, and for the authorities as they investigate the incident.”
