India

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- A priest and nun who spent 24 days in a northern Indian jail on charges of violating environmental legislation say the experience helped them understand the plight of prisoners in this predominantly Hindu nation.

By Ajaya Kumar Singh, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Orissa, India BHUBANESWAR, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Envoys from five Nordic countries are meeting victims of India's worst anti-Christian violence in decades, which left over 100 people dead in the state of Orissa.

By Santosh Digal, BosNewsLife Asia Correspondent NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Despite concerns over his health, a prominent human rights activist continued his hunger strike Saturday, December 19, to force the Indian government to reserve jobs in the booming private sector for Dalits -- the 'lowest caste' in India's ancient system of Hinduism -- and other poor communities.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Persecution of minority Christians in India is escalating ahead of Christmas with attacks reported in several areas including in southern regions and the capital New Delhi. In one of the latest known incidents Saturday, December 13, evangelical Christians were attacked and beaten by Hindu militants for singing Christmas carols in India's southern city of Hyderabad, seriously injuring a pastor and four others, rights activists told BosNewsLife.

By Santosh Digal, BosNewsLife Asia Correspondent reporting from India BANGALORE, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Suspected Hindu militants broke up a Christian prayer meeting and forced two women leading the gathering to stop evangelizing in India's southwestern state of Karnataka, as part of several attacks against devoted believers across the country, Christians told BosNewsLife Monday, March 12.  

By Santosh Digal, BosNewsLife Asia Correspondent NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Christian groups in India have welcomed recommendations from a government-appointed commission to give Christian converts of a Hindu 'Dalit' caste background similar state benefits as underprivileged groups professing Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism as their religion.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Hundreds of future missionaries have graduated at a Bible college in India's northern state of Rajasthan and pledged to "die for Christ" if necessary amid expected persecution, a major mission group said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- An evangelical Indian pastor who spent eight years in prison on "false charges of being a rebel" can celebrate Easter with his family Sunday, March 31, after he was unexpectedly released, missionaries said.Pastor Samuel, who uses only one name, is "finally free", explained his mission group Gospel for Asia.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Christian aid group Open Doors is launching a social media campaign against plans by Hindu groups in India to "cleanse the nation" of Christianity within three years. The announcement by one of the world's leading organizations for persecuted Christians comes amid church attacks by militants linked to groups such as Dharm Jagran Samiti, which wants India to become an exclusively Hindu nation, or 'Hindu Rashtra,' by 2021.

By Santosh Digal, BosNewsLife Asia Correspondent NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Evangelical Christians in central and southern India were worshiping Sunday, March 28, amid threats from suspected Hindu militants who reportedly attacked a Christian youth center, churches and pastors.