ASIA/INDIA - Church set on fire in the state of Telangana

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - The new state of Telangana, officially created in the Indian Federation a few months ago, received the "baptism" of violence by Hindu extremists: the Protestant church of the village of Tadur in Mahabubnagar district, was given to flames and completely destroyed by unknown people. As Fides learns, according to local Christians, those who committed such act are members of radical Hindu groups. It was the only church in the village, built with bamboo and straw, that Christians used for prayer. The fire destroyed Bibles, books and the very little furniture. Police investigations are underway.
Pastor D. Srinivas, who regularly went to the village for mass, said: "Before this incident, on several occasions, Hindu extremists threatened me, warning me not to come to the village and not to build the church". In the district more than a dozen anti-Christian attacks have been recorded in recent months. According to rev. Ronald John, Chairman of the Joint Commission of the Christians in Telangana, "the attacks have increased since the Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/01/2015)


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