A Gospel for Asia radio program producer was among at least 25 GFA missionaries and Bible college students who were severely beaten in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, on Saturday. Anti-Christian violence is frequent in the more rural areas of Madhya Pradesh, central India. But this was the first attack against Christians in Bhopal. The believers were meeting for a church service when 35 youths belonging to an extremist anti-Christian faction began smashing windows and damaging property, including a vehicle. The youths proceeded to beat the Christians with iron rods and wooden poles. "They then attacked Pastor Sadhwani and others with sticks and beat him mercilessly," Lalachan, GFA's regional leader, reported. Pastor Sadhwani suffered serious head injuries and collapsed, unconscious. "Pastor Sadhwani is undergoing medical treatment and is now out of danger," Lalachan said, "but he is vomiting blood continually." Another pastor suffered a broken leg, and "everybody suffered head injuries and fractures," reported Lalachan. The local leader of the extremist group behind the violence condemned the attacks to the press, but accused the Christians of offering incentives to the poor if they would convert. In April 2005, a committee published a report on "proselytizing" among tribals. Blaming Christian missionaries and government laxity, the report claimed that the Christian population in Madhya Pradesh had grown by 80 percent from 1991 to 2000. In response, the state government said it intended to stop tribal conversions by amending its anti-conversion law. The report was called one-sided, and even leaders of anti-Christian organizations said there was no evidence that tribals were being forced to convert. However, persecution has increased in the state since the committee's report. Lalachan asks for prayer that the authorities will act justly, that the believers will recover quickly and that the youth who carried out the attacks may realize the nature and power of God and give their hearts to Jesus. more info: http://www.gfa.org/gfa/latestnews
