A husband, wife and one of their four children were brutally slain in India because of their Christian faith, which one alleged assailant apparently believed had caused his own daughter’s illness.
On Jan. 25, Jitendra Soren’s two brothers and a nephew killed Jitendra, wife Malati Soren and 15-year-old daughter Sasmita in Nialijharan village in India’s Odisha state, Morning Star News reported.
For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper.
SIGN UP for our weekly Highlights emails.
The assailants killed the husband with an ax and slit the throats of the wife and daughter. The couple’s 12-year-old daughter, 21-year-old daughter and her two toddlers witnessed the slayings and fled, Morning Star reports.
About eight months ago, Jitendra was suffering a significant medical issue and asked a pastor to pray for him. Jitendra ultimately experienced healing and the family became Christians.
The assailants practice a tribal religion.
When a daughter of one assailant fell ill, that man believed Jitendra — through Christianity — had been healed by casting the sickness upon the girl.
Suguda Soren, son of the slain couple, said the motive for the killings has been framed as land disputes with relatives. But, he said, the sick girl’s father had vowed to kill Jitendra’s family if she did not recover.
On Feb. 16, approximately 400 people gathered with police protection for a prayer meeting at Jitendra’s residence, Morning Star stated.
World Watch
India is No. 12 on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the 50 places most difficult to be a Christian.
Share with others: