Sajan George, the president of advocacy group Global Council of Indian Christians(GCIC), said
Pastor Walter Masih Walter, 42, was beaten in Jaipur after returning home from a worship service to "nurse his seven year old daughter" who was suffering a severe bout of fever."
Initially, "two boys first came and asked Pastor whether he can tell them more about Jesus as they are seekers of truth." However, "as the Pastor started sharing [his faith] with them, suddenly about 25 youngsters joined them and started beating Pastor Walter," said George, who has close knowledge about the situation.
"They beat him very badly with big sticks and he was bleeding all over his face in front of his daughter" Hebzebha, who "was having severe sickness." Watching the "severe attack" and after "pleading for help," she "became unconscious," George said.
ONE HOUR
The attack reportedly went on for about an hour "in the presence of large number of onlookers," with no one daring to help, he added. "Even local police and state administration ignored the onslaught on the innocent Pastor," George claimed, adding that the attack happened near the "high security houses of the chief minister and other ministers."
Local media reportedly said that the attack was in "repercussion of his activities in his school" where he serves as an independent pastor
Although the pastor was "rained with blows" he managed to "pray for the attackers loudly" and
was seen "praising Jesus Christ," a move resembling the Bible story about Stephen, the first
Christian martyr who was stoned to death, GCIC’s George said.
"PRAISING JESUS"
He said the "praising of Jesus" apparently infuriated the militants, who he claimed were linked to the Hindu nationalist organizations Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or ‘National Volunteers’ Union’, and the Bajrang Dal, or ‘The Brigade of Bajrang.’
They also apparently "misbehaved" with the pastor’s 33-year old wife, Joyce, but more details
were not immediately available. George said Christian aid workers arrived at the family home
to support the seriously injured pastor and his family.
George said it comes at a time when the Indian government and the and India’s National Commission of Minorities remains "silent" about all the nearly 300 attacks against Christians his group recorded in the past 15 months. Indian officials were not immediately available to comment on the latest developments. However church leaders have expressed concerns about what they claim is a growing number of Hindu-led attacks against Christians. (With reporting from India).
