DEWADA, India — A pregnant woman lost her baby after being beaten by Hindu extremists who attacked Christians at a New Year’s Eve celebration.
Leela Bai, 25, was eight months pregnant when she was pushed down and repeatedly kicked in the stomach until she was unconscious. She delivered a stillborn baby boy in an ambulance; two hospitals refused to treat her.
Thirty Hindu extremists attacked Dewada village, accusing tribal Christians of converting people. The extremists asked police to arrest the Christians under the recently passed “anti-conversion” law of Madhya Pradesh state. The law allows conversions, but only upon pre-approval.
Christians in the village fled to nearby mountains.
The extremists are suspected to be members of the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the “parent” of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Attacks on Christians have increased since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP came to power in May 2014.
India was No. 31 on Open Doors’ 2013 World Watch List of places where it is most difficult to be a Christian; in 2021, India is No. 10.
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