Hindu extremists attack church, force Christians into temple
From our correspondent
Hindu militants struck a church in Chattisgarh on 4 December 2005 and forcibly took the believers to a temple to worship.
At least 25 members of Dharma Sena, a Hindu extremist group, attacked a church in Raipur in Chattisgarh, beating up five Christians. After attacking them in the church, including visiting speakers Masih Das Rai and Anmol Kamble, the extremists forced them and Ramesh Das Manikpuri, another area pastor, who was dragged from his home, into a Hindu temple.
Akhilesh Edgar of local Christian organisation Milap Mandali said the Sena militants tried to force the Christians to bow down before the idols and shout Jai Shri Ram.” “The Christians flatly refused,” Edgar said. “Masih Das Rai even went to the extent of saying, ‘You can kill me but I will not bow down before the idol.’”
The Sena had been threatening the Christians for some time. While there were about 30 people beating the Christians, the Sena extremists had gathered about 200 other people in front of the house to keep church members from escaping. “After beating up the four Christians, the extremists tore their clothes and paraded them in the entire area,” Edgar said.
Some young men from the fellowship managed to escape and called Christian leaders in Raipur from a public phone booth. Edgar and two other Christian leaders Arun Pannalal and Rakesh Jaiaj and a few others with them went to the area to help. When they arrived, they did not find the attackers. Then they went to the police station to report the matter.
Later the Sena militants tried to force four of the Christians to sign a prepared document stating that they had been involved in forced and fraudulent conversions. Kamble and Sharma signed the document, while Rai and Manikpuri refused to do so.
At about 1.30 pm, the Sena extremists brought the Christians to the Urla police station (where the Christian leaders who had come to help were waiting). Of the five Christians held, only four reached the police station, as the Sena had released Yadav. The police sent Rai and Manikpuri away for medical treatment, as they had suffered injuries. Kamble and Sharma were released after questioning.
They were threatened again by the Sena militants as they returned from the police station.
Following medical treatment, Rai and Manikpuri were detained by the police for questioning. The authorities did not file charges against the Sena despite requests by Christian leaders. Led by Leela Dhar Chandrakar, the Sena has been very active against Christians.