GRAM FALLAIYA, India — Hindu extremists raided Christian events in India’s Madhya Pradesh state in April, leaving a visiting theology student dead and several other Christians injured.
The body of 23-year-old Amit Gilbert was recovered from a water well 25 feet from the site of a Christian revival meeting that 15 to 20 Hindu extremists attacked April 17 in Gram Fallaiya, Post Pathakheda, Betul district.
With covered heads, they carried iron rods and bamboo clubs, and these members of the Hindu extremist Dharam Sena and Bajrang Dal groups cut electricity at the nighttime event and began striking, sending the more than 400 in attendance running, Christian leaders said.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants chased Gilbert, a resident of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh state, and beat him mainly on his legs. Police in the state controlled by the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said for the moment they believe Gilbert accidentally fell into the well amid the chaos, but Christians present said that is unlikely. His body was found with his head and legs submerged in the 1.5-meter-deep water of the well, yet he had no water in his lungs or stomach when Christians drew him out, said Pastor Santwan Lal, organizer of the April 15–17 revival event, suggesting that Gilbert was dead before being thrown in.
In Balaghat on April 14 and 15, Hindu extremists attacked a three-day gospel meeting with fuel bombs in spite of the presence of police summoned beforehand to provide security. Police increased security for the April 15 meeting, but as it was drawing to a close about 150 BJP and Bajrang Dal members surrounded the stadium.
“Christians who were returning from the meeting and attempting to get away from Balaghat as soon as possible were attacked and beaten with sticks and pelted with stones,” said Pastor Amos Singh of Jeevan Jyoti Ministries.
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