Pastor, church member beaten by Hindu extremists

BOMMASANDRA, India — Six Hindu extremists beat Pastor Abey C. Mathew, 30, of the Christian Ministry Church Sept. 6 in the Bommasandra area of Bangalore. Sajan K. George of the Global Council of Indian Christians said extremists, led by Narayana Swamy, barged into the church compound shouting anti-Christian curses and punched and kicked Mathew and congregation member Joseph Abraham. Mathew and Abraham were treated for injuries at Baptist Hospital.

“The mob told me to stop my preaching of a foreign faith and kept hitting me,” Mathew said. “They are now threatening my believers, who are now afraid to worship at the church. On Sept. 9, very few attended Sunday worship.” Mathew, whose congregation consists of 22 people, filed a complaint at the Hebbagudi police station, but at press time, no arrests had been made.