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PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org
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http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s06080083.htm
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com
Friday, August 18, 2006
Pastors brutally attacked in the Rajasthan state of India
By Michael Ireland
Special Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
RAJASTHAN, INDIA (ANS) -- Two pastors, Pastor Kunjuman Mathai and Pastor Suresh Bhuria have been brutally beaten in Rajasthan, a state ruled by the Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. According to the Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org the attack took place on July 13, at the Padla bus station in Kushalgar sub-district of Rajasthan’s Banswara district, where Hindu groups had earlier pledged to cleanse all Christian believers.
ICC says that, in fact, within the state of Rajasthan, the assembly led by the BJP recently passed a bill to enact an anti-conversion law, which is awaiting confirmation by the state governor.
Pastor Mathai spoke to ICC about his account. “The attackers first went to the bus stop and asked about me. As soon as we arrived, they stopped us and started beating us. They beat us for more than one hour.” he said.
A media advisory states: "The All India Christian Council (AICC) identified the men as: Keshev Khihuri, Mithalal Katara, and Ramlal Khihuri. The three men, who have already been linked with other anti-Christian activities in the area, beat the pastors with iron rods and stones, and took by force belongings Pastor Bhuria had in his possession while traveling."
"Pastor Mathai had visible injuries on various parts of his body, including congealing of blood in his eyes. He was rushed to a hospital for first aid and medical examination," it says.
The ICC statement adds:"Before fleeing the spot, the three men threatened the pastors saying they would be killed if they registered a complaint to the police. Mathai reports that he sent a complaint by mail to the Kalinjara police station July 18th and the letter was received two days later."
"However, I do not know whether the police have registered our complaint," Mathai said.
Christians in India affirm that Rajasthan, a state located in Northeast India, is one of the most dangerous for Christians.
ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC delivers humanitarian aid, trains and supports persecuted pastors, raises awareness in the US regarding the problem of persecution, and is an advocate for the persecuted on Capitol Hill and the State Department. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
Contact: ICC (International Christian Concern) www.persecution.org.
Jeff King President, 301-989-1708, icc@persecution.org
International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave #941
Washington, DC 20006
** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is Media Director for Strategic World Impact of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and a Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.
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