At a time when thousands of people are dying from a new wave of COVID-19 in India, radical Hindus still lack the compassion to love their fellow man during these trying times. Here is a recent story from the International Christian Concern on how a group of radical Hindus killed a pastor earlier this week in the Bansawara district.
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that a 52-year-old Christian was
shot dead in an attack on a Christian family by radical Hindu
nationalists in India’s Rajasthan state. According to the local sources,
three other Christians were seriously injured after they were brutally
beaten with a gun, swords, and sickles.
On May 18, a mob of 15
radical Hindu nationalists carrying swords, sickles, and a gun attacked
the family of Pastor Ramesh Bumbariya at his home in the Bansawra
District. The mob reportedly attacked the family after they refused to
renounce their Christian faith.
During the assault, the
radicals pointed the gun at Pastor Bumbariya and attempted to shoot the
pastor. The gun, however, failed to fire. Later the assailants pointed
the gun at Pastor Bumbariya’s father, Bhima Bumbariya, and shot the
52-year-old Christian. After his father collapsed to the ground, Pastor
Bumbariya was knocked unconscious.
Pastor Bumbariya and two
other members of his family were transported to the government hospital
in Udaipur, but the hospital staff refused to admit the injured
Christians due to COVID regulations. Later, the injured Christians were
admitted to a nearby private hospital.
“I believe God has a definite purpose in keeping me alive,” Pastor Bumbariya told ICC from his hospital bed. “I will carry on the ministry God has given to me.”
“We gave up so much already for the sake of our faith,” Pastor Bumbariya continued. “They
took away our agricultural land, they destroyed our house, now they
want our lives. I am worried about my family and children; about what
will happen to them when I am not around.”
Pastor
Bumbariya has worked as a church planter in the Bansawra District and
has started several house churches in different villages. According to
local church leaders, Pastor Bumbariya has been attacked by radicals
several times in the past and has even had a false forced conversion
allegation filed against him.
“I am sure I cannot attend my father’s funeral now that I am almost on a death bed,” Pastor Bumbariya told ICC. “But I thank God for his mercies during this difficult situation.”
William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We
here at International Christian Concern are deeply concerned by the
attack on Pastor Ramesh and his family. We pray for their full recovery
and mourn with them over the murder of Bhima. No one should be murdered
because they choose to follow Jesus. In recent years, however, the
impunity enjoyed by radical Hindu nationalists in India has emboldened
them to increase their attacks on Christians, in both number and
severity. Authorities in India must do more to bring these radicals to
justice and provide Indian Christians with their religious freedom
rights guaranteed by India’s constitution.”
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