(GEMS) compound in India’s Bihar State Monday, September 26, after Hindu militants injured several Christians one of them seriously, news reports said.
Compass Direct, a Christian news agency investigating persecution, said the militant’s second attack in less than a month began late Sunday, September 25, and left one Christian, Kirupakaran Shankar, with a spinal injury and partially paralyzed. "The recently married" man "lost movement in one leg," Compass said.
The violence in the Sikaria village of Rohtas district where GEMS is based followed a similar August 31 attack. "About 16 people came from the nearby villages of Shankarpur and Bhedibigha at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and broke open the gate of the compound,” a GEMS official was quoted as saying.
"They pulled out some of the GEMS staff [from the compound] … and brutally beat them. They also robbed them of their belongings before throwing them into the fields," he reportedly told the news agency.
The militants allegedly hit a Christian doctor, Ambrose Christopher, around the head and hands, breaking one of his fingers. They took another man, Stephen Shankar, to nearby Bhedibigha village beat him before throwing him into a field, Compass Direct said. His motorcycle and other belongings were reportedly also destroyed. Another man was apparently left with a serious nosebleed after being punched in the face.
LARGEST MINISTRY
GEMS is the largest indigenous Christian missionary agency in Bihar and located about 200 kilometers (124 miles) away from the state capital, Patna. Around 100 families – and a total of 900 children – live at the compound, which contains a school, student hostel, orphanage, hospital and other social service facilities.
Fighting reportedly continued Monday, September 26, when about 250 people protested against the GEMS presence in the state outside its compound, blocking traffic on the main road and puncturing tires of the GEMS school buses. They also allegedly damaged several police vehicles, including a riot control vehicle, and broke a policeman’s jaw.
A mob that swelled to around 800 people had previously attacked GEMS on August 31, injuring at least 12 Christian residents and holding the compound under siege for three days, news reports said.
Sunday’s troubles began when 16 men and women – including some who had participated in the August attack – reportedly forced a watchman to give them access to the compound, claiming they wanted to carry out a Hindu religious ritual at a river on the opposite side of the compound.
GATE LOCKED
"When they turned back from the river, they found the gate was locked. It is normally locked at about 6 p.m. every day for security reasons," Pastor E. C. Johnson, regional coordinator of GEMS, told Compass Direct. “Then they broke open the gate and launched an attack on the Christians."
GEMS has protested the attacks and demanded that police launches a criminal investigation against the 16 attackers. Police officials were not immediately available for comment.
While no Hindu organization has apparently claimed responsibility for the Sunday attacks, Christian leaders have expressed concern that India will see more violence, amid growing pressure from Hindu groups on authorities to end what they see as "forced conversions" by churches and missionaries of Hindu people.
The reported violence comes ahead of a crucial local election in Bihar state which is under federal rule. Two coalitions, the United Progressive Alliance, led by the Congress Party, and the National Democratic Alliance led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party will contest the state assembly elections scheduled from October 18 to November 19.
Election results are expected November 22. (With reports from India)
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