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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

Monday, November 27, 2006

India: Church Worker Knifed to Death in Historic Church

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

CHENNAI, INDIA (ANS) -- An employee of the historic St. Thomas Mount Church in Chennai, India, was stabbed to death at the church shrine by an unidentified assailant on the evening of Sunday, 26th Nov. 2006. A large number of devotees gathered at the Church for the evening service at that time.

According to SMV News Service, the victim was Jacob, 60, a Tamil speaking man and a local resident of Butt Road, Tambaram in Chennai who was managing sales of religious articles at the church.
“He was knifed following a dispute over the price of an article, according to police,” said the story. “The assailant had come to the shrine at about 6.30 p.m. and had picked a quarrel with Jacob. But they could not immediately identify any other reason for the murder.

“When the assailant began to attack him, Jacob took refuge in another room. The attacker followed and stabbed Jacob on the face, chest and abdomen. The assailant also threatened the shocked onlookers before fleeing.

“A bleeding Jacob was rushed at once to a private hospital in Porur where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“Greater Chennai Police Commissioner Letika Saran visited the spot and told reporters the police are investigating the case and would soon book the culprit as they have some strong leads.”

SVM News Service also reports that the Christian Ministers Council of India (CMCI) and the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) condemned the brutal killing of Jacob.

St. Thomas Mount Church

Built in 1523 by the Portuguese, a small relic-filled Church stands at the summit of the 300 foot high St. Thomas Mount. This is the site where Saint Thomas (apostle of Jesus Christ) was said to be killed.

For further information on the killing of Jacob, contact Pastor Paul Ciniraj, Salem Voice Ministries, http://salemvoice.org

Dan Wooding is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the latest of which is his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to www.fromtabloidtotruth.com. danjuma1@aol.com.

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