Indian church members reassured after attack

BATHINDA DISTRICT, Punjab state, India — Punjab police May 5 assured members of a house church in Bathinda district attacked by Hindu extremists during an Easter service that they would help negotiate a compromise with the attackers. Sukh Pal Singh, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP, or World Hindu Council), on April 16 led a group of five people who disrupted the service at the House of Prayer, an independent church. The extremists also warned the church not to hold further meetings. Pastor Francis, who goes by one name, said, “Initially, they stood outside my house and warned the Christians who were coming to attend the service not to enter the house. Later they came onto the terrace and started shouting, demanding that we stop the prayer right away.”