Church Vandalized in Maharashtra

A mob of about 25 Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal disrupted a Sunday worship meeting and vandalized a church on April 19 in eastern Maharashtra’s state Nagpur. According to an EFI correspondent, Tehmina Arora, at about 10:40 a.m., Hindu extremists armed with sticks, swords and knives barged into Douglas Memorial Church shouting slogans, “Jai Shri Ram”, “Jai Hanuman” when the Sunday morning service was in progress and attacked the Christians. 

As the church members dispersed in fear, the hardliners went on a rampage and destroyed church furniture, Bibles, hymnals and the mission school bus park in front of the church. “As I was preaching, a dozen young boys shouting “Jai Shri Ram” entered and starts beating the church members with sticks” Rev. Mark Madhukar Sakharpekar told EFI, “they even threw a knife towards me which fortunately missed the mark.” 

The extremists also threatened the pastor of dire consequences if he conducts worship meetings in future. The pastor filed a police complaint in Saoner police station. The police arrested seven extremists under Sections 141, 142,147,149,427 and 295 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Police Crime No. 68/09.