Christians charged with attempted murder in India

Christians charged with attempted murder in India

GANDHINAGAR, India — Eight Christians working with the Indian Missionary Society (IMS) in India’s Gujarat state are facing charges of attempted murder and misuse of firearms after Hindu extremists waylaid and assaulted them the week of Sept. 18.

Pastor Dasrath Nanji Dilwad and his wife, Manjula Bhen, along with another married couple and four male companions, were beaten severely, robbed and warned of dire consequences if they continued to share the gospel in the area. When they went to report the incident Sept. 21, the police arrested the six men on charges filed by one of their attackers, Kanji Nayak. The two women were arrested Sept. 25. Nayak claimed the eight had tried to forcefully convert him and that when he refused, Dilwad fired two rounds of ammunition at him, attempting to kill him. D. Vethanbu, IMS general secretary, stated it was clear the extremists had attacked the Christians, not the other way around. “These accusations are the work of extremists who will go to any lengths to prevent the spread of the gospel,” Vethanbu said.