Anti-Christian Violence in India Worsens, Spreads
Eugene, OR — Friday, October 3, 2008. Continued attacks on Christians in several Indian states have left many afraid for their lives. Over 140 churches and prayer halls have been destroyed. Thousands of homes have been burned down. More than 50,000 people have been driven from their homes and taken refuge in forests. It is estimated that 30,000 children currently face starvation. Unofficial counts put the death toll in the hundreds, maybe thousands.
Two India Partners agencies note that the violence, which is being carried out by Hindu extremists, began initially in the state of Orissa and has spread to the surrounding states of Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh over the past month. One partner states: " I know people who have died and churches that have been burned. So that's hard to take."
According to a report from one of the partners: "We are planning to visit the persecuted churches in 4 districts, and help them with food and clothes, and rebuilding their ... houses. We have people to go to the persecuted places to help them, but we do not have funds available for this project."
India Partners is working with long-term partners on the ground to provide clean water, food, clothes and medicines for those who have been affected. India Partners, which has been involved with relief work in India since 1984, is working with its well-established partners to help those in need.
Please pray for all those who have been and continue to be affected by the violence that is spreading in India. Please pray as well for the hearts of the attackers to be softened so that they would stop attacking Christians. Christians are a minority religion in India, comprising about 2% of the population.
For more information, please visit the following :
BBC News: "India's conversions controversy"
To donate to the Persecution Relief Fund, please click Donate Now, call 1-877-87-INDIA, or mail your gift to PO Box 5470, Eugene, OR 97405. Thank you!
India Partners is a Christian international development and relief organization that has been supporting self-help and disaster relief projects in India since 1984. All are served regardless of caste, religion, gender, or creed.