Christian groups in India are condemning attacks on four missions volunteers from the United States in the western Indian state of Maharashtra June 11.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, in a statement to the media, described the violence as an attack on a peaceful religious gathering.
“It is very unfortunate that foreign nationals are not being treated well in our country, which has a rich tradition of (welcoming) guests,” said spokesman Babu Joseph.
John Dayal, secretary-general of the All India Christian Council (AICC), said in an interview that his group will make an independent inquiry into the incident and expressed concern about the escalating violence in states like Maharashtra.
The four Americans – Philip Allan, Clover Edward, Craig Allen and Richard Jenal – are from a Church of Christ congregation in North Carolina. They were attacked with clubs and swords in Malsani, a suburb close to the western Indian commercial capital of Bombay, for being involved in a Bible-reading session.
The police, instead of nabbing the attackers, bundled up the Americans and sent them back to the United States, saying they were violating visa regulations.
Indian law forbids those entering on a tourist visa to indulge in preaching or religious activity. The missions volunteers refute the police theory, saying they were only in a Bible study.
According to a Bible-study regular and eyewitness to the attack, Jinsi John. “The [missions volunteers] were praying when they were beaten up.”
In 2003, 68-year-old American missionary Joseph William Cooper was attacked with swords and sticks in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Cooper, now a bishop in a Pentecostal fellowship headquartered in Marietta, Ohio, was injured in the attack.
Police arrested 10 members of a Hindu fundamentalist organization, but no one has been sentenced.
(RNS)
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