NILPHAMARI, Bangladesh — Intervention from high-ranking police officers and government officials has ensured temporary security for a group of Christian converts beaten in Nilphamari district, Bangladesh. Muslim villagers attacked the Christians June 26 and the next day gave them a 24-hour deadline to leave the village or face further beatings and the destruction of their homes.
Police have stationed a protective team in the Durbachari village for three months, allowing the converts to stay in their homes and return to work in their fields, but their children can no longer attend the local madrassa (Islamic school) — the only form of education available in the village. Attacks in Durbachari and neighboring Laksmirdanga villages followed the June 12 baptisms of 42 men and women from Muslim backgrounds in a local river.
Muslims in both villages bound both male and female Christian converts in their homes and beat them severely. Three advocates who had gone to a police station to file a complaint on behalf of the converts were taken into police custody June 28 and released the following day.
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