In Chains: Christian Persecution - 2019, Issue 1

played loud music or Hindu devotional songs
during worship services to disturb the
Christians, said a 36-year-old church
member identiYied only as Pramod.
When a pastor identiYied only as Allageshan
on Dec. 21 requested the neighbor clear
away the debris before a service at the site,
the Hindu became furious and beat him,
telling him to mind his own business,
Pramod said.
“They refused to clean their trash and told
the pastor to go complain against them,”
Pramod told Morning Star News. “I went to
meet my pastor and told him that now that
they have become violent, he must inform
the police, but he refused to do so.”
As Christian youths went to prepare the
building for the evening service, Hindu
neighbors followed them on motorbikes,
taunting them in vulgar language when they
stopped at a tea stall for snacks, he said.
“They mocked the youths, saying, ‘Hey look
at these cowards – spineless fellows! We
attacked their pastor, but they have no guts
to speak up,’” he said.
They drove recklessly around the Christian
youths on their motorbikes trying to provoke
a Yight, he said.
“There was a clash between the groups,”
Pramod said. “The youths managed to
escape from there and went to church, back
to their work of cleaning and unrolling the
carpets, making preparations. But they did
not share about the attack, and within 10 to
15 minutes, a mob of over 40 Hindu
extremists struck the main gate.”
The assailants were shouting vulgarities, he
said.
“I rushed to rescue the youths and tried to
videotape what was happening,” Pramod
told Morning Star News. “But they pinned
me down like wrestling champions and
bruised my left eye. My phone was taken
away, and I was lying there helplessly.”
His father received word that he was beaten
and came running from their house four
streets away, he said.
“They pushed him, and he too collapsed,”
Pramod said. “They were heavily drunk and
attacked us like wrestling or boxing
champions in rage. I’m sure they must be
professionals. I lifted my 62-two-year old
father, and we both went to Jagathgir Gutta
police station in that condition.”
Police refused to take their complaint, saying
the written report was not in the proper
format, he said.
“Then, a day later, the area’s circle inspector
changed the version, and Yiled it as a dispute
between both parties so they could book
cases against me and my dad,” Pramod said.
“I was shocked when the inspector told me
that he has no other option but to send my
dad and me to remand. They booked an FIR
against us.”
While the inspector did not follow through
on his threat to take them into custody,
Jagathgir Gutta police registered case against
Pramod and his father, fabricating a charge
of “voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous
weapons” under Section 324 of the Indian
Penal Code, he said
Open Opposition
On Dec. 31 in Andhra Pradesh state, police
stood by as Hindu women knocked down a
temporary wall Christians had erected as a
barrier against cold winds during a New
Year’s Eve service, sources said.
Church members in Kothagudem village,