Koraput, July 28, 2020: A group of Christians was brutally attacked by a gang of religious goons at midnight on July 21. The attack took place in the eastern Indian state of Odisha in a village named Badaguda in Koraput district.
Speaking to Persecution Relief, Ayuba Khora, the local Pastor said, “The goons broke into the home of 75-year-old Chachiri Muduli, who was housing around 7 odd Christians after their homes had been broken down earlier this year by the same fanatics. The goons not only mercilessly beat the Christians up but also destroyed the house.”
He further added, “Eight Christians in all were admitted to the local government hospital with severe injuries, of which the elderly Chachiri had the worst wounds.”
Ayuba told Persecution Relief that he had been running a house church at the Badaguda village for the past two years. Around 40 Christians used to gather to pray every Friday. Since then, the villagers have been harassing and beating up the believers saying, “When you pray, our gods leave us, so you have to stop praying here or you must leave this village.”
Sudhakar Khosla, another pastor and one of the Odisha state coordinators for Persecution Relief, contacted Pastory Ayuba regarding the attack. On March 26 this year, the fanatics burnt down and destroyed a small cottage they had built for the church and services.
Ayuba also said since the fanatics broken down the homes of other believers in the village Christians had taken shelter at ChachiriMuduli’s home.
Around eight families in all are being persecuted for their faith in this village” he said.
Pastor Sudhakar also got an opportunity to speak with the persecuted Christians regarding their ordeal. “The villagers told us that our Christian faith has disturbed the village,” said Sumitra, a young Christian girl. The fanatics beat her along with her father, Shiba Muduli, two other sisters, Sabi and Radhika and her brother-Sunam.
“Some of these villagers are very angry with us because we worship Jesus Christ and are trying to make us forsake Christianity,” said Sunam Muduli, who is currently recuperating from his injuries.
Ayuba explained to Persecution Relief that in the past two years, the fanatics have quarreled with Christians, beat them up and broke down their homes several times. The homes of brothers Patulu naik and Purshan Naik were destroyed a few weeks ago. The believers approached the village headman for help numerous times but nothing was done about it.
“We then approached the Tehsildar and requested him to intervene on our behalf. Sadly, we were turned away with comforting words and no help” narrated Ayuba. He further stated that the attacks against the believers intensified to such an extent that all of them began living together as their homes and possessions were taken over by the goons.
Ayuba and other Christians filed the First Information Report three times at the local police station.
“But the police did nothing and did not arrest them,” alleged Pastor Sudhakar, who added that they filed thee fourth FIR was filed on July 22.
Since January 2020, Persecution Relief recorded a total of 18 cases of Christian Persecution in the state of Odisha and reported six murders in the same state since 2015. In the first half this year, 293 cases of Christian persecution were recorded by Persecution Relief. From January 2016 to June 2020, Persecution Relief has recorded 2,067 cases of Hate crimes against Christians in India
Source: countercurrents.org