RATLAM, India — Still reeling from violence in Orissa state, India’s Christians suffered major blows in two other states during the first weekend in September.
As the Global Council of Indian Christians revised its estimate of deaths from the previous two weeks of violence in Orissa state from “more than 100” to 53 Sept. 8, Christians in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, were shocked when suspected Hindu extremists burned down the 86-year-old St. Bartholomew Church of North India Sept. 7. Christian leaders said suspected members of the “Bajrang Dal” and “Vishwa Hindu Parishad” (World Hindu Council) burned down the venerable church after parishioners had elaborately decorated it for its 86th anniversary.
In Chhattisgarh state Sept. 5, about 20 “Bajrang Dal” extremists boarded a train at the Durgh railway station and took four babies no more than 2 years old from two nuns of the Missionaries of Charity and from two women who were helpers. Accusing the nuns of forced conversion, they turned them over to railway police. Subsequently, the Hindu extremists beat a nun and a driver sent to help.
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