Bhopal: A school going Christian girl was gang raped and killed to apparently, avenge her family’s refusal to give up Christianity, which they embraced 18-years back, say Church leaders.

The scantly clothed body of the 14-year old girl was found in the forest under Bayanar Police station, district Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh state on July 22.

She is one among the six siblings of her parents. The body bore multiple injuries including vital parts. The police seized tablets used to boost sex power beside her body. Her lips were pasted with Fevi Kwick and also eyes.

All these according to Church officials are clear signs that she was gang raped and killed.

Inspector Chanrakar Hublal, who heads Bayanar police station when contacted told mattersindia.com, “I cannot confirm rape, as we are yet to get autopsy report”.

“It is, however, true that she was partially clad and some suspicious materials were seized from the spot where her body was found” the official added.

The office further says, “police have already registered a case of murder and in case the post mortem report finds rape, we will add it to the original case”.

“This is a revenge killing for not abandoning Christianity” says Pastor A K Netam who is serving in the area for almost two decades.

The family of the girl, told mattersindia.com that he had accepted Christ as their Savior 18-years back despite intense pressure from the villagers against it.

Her father Maner Sori, said he did not abandon his faith as he felt peace within after joining Christianity. He too suspects that his daughter was killed for his family’s faith in Christ.

The bereaved father, however, maintained, “I will not leave Christ in my life and death”. He is sad that his innocent daughter is put to a cruel death, if it would have been due to a disease or any other means “I would not have felt so much pain”, he regrets.

“When the family refused to give up their faith in Christ the villagers boycotted them, but the family did not give in”, says their Pastor.

But in the past three years, the pressure on the family was so much to quit Christianity, but they were adamant to continue in their faith” he says adding “the killing could be part a revengeful act”.

The police too, admitted that the villagers had boycotted the family, but refused to directly connect it with the murder. The police, however, maintain that the murder is committed by someone known to her.

Meanwhile, the Indian head of Persecution Relief, Pastor Tomson Thomas condemned the cruel murder “saying this kind of act of violence does not serve any purpose”.

“The Christians in the country”, he told mattersindia.com, “face a series of violent attacks from religious fanatics”. “We keep getting reports of attacks against Christians all over the country every day, but it does not dampen our sprit”, he affirms.

He also urged the government to protect the life and properties of the Christians like other citizen of the country.

Of late, Chhattisgarh state has witnessed a series of violent attack against Christians and their institutions.