FREEDOM to practice one’s own religion may be a given in the Constitution but it is a high-risk activity in some parts of Karnataka. Five Christians belonging to three different families in Hassan district of that state learned it the hard way recently.
The five believers were accosted by Hindu fundamentalists and threatened against going to their church – the Calvary Prarthana Mandira at Javagal in Arasikere Taluk of Hassan District in Karnataka.
The three-year-old house church is run by Pastor Surendra (33). The church has 30 members. The five members who were threatened hail from a village called Boochanahally about 15 km from the church. They have been attending the church after they became Christians 18 months ago.
On Oct 26, some Hindu fundamentalists confronted these five believers and told them to stop attending the church in Javagal with immediate effect. However, when the believers went ahead with their decision to practice their religion they were attacked.
Infuriated with their refusal to comply with their demands to give up their faith in Christ and also pay their contributions to the village temple, the Hindu fundamentalists attacked them and severely beat them up. All the five bleeding and wounded believers were rushed to the Chikmagalur Government Hospital where they are undergoing treatment as in-patients.
The five simple village believers who fearlessly stood for their faith in Christ Jesus are – Venkatesh, Girish, Annaiah, Somu and Kanakamma. Please pray for them.
