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Church attacked in Mahabubhagar |
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Written by Correspondent
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Saturday, 01 August 2009 |
 Hyderabad: Activists belonging to Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have attacked a church in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh alleging large-scale conversion activities in the area.
Smarna Prayer Home Church at Kosghi in Mahabubnagar district has been facing harassment from VHP activists in the area. The church, started in 1998, managed to put up a hut for prayer gatherings. With further assistance from believers and others, the church later bought a piece of land to build a permanent church.
Pastor B. Y. Dass took necessary permission from Grama Panchyath for constructing the church. On 1 August 2009 the Pastor, along with his believers, made preparations to lay the foundation for the proposed church. On hearing about the programme, around 60 VHP activists arrived at the venue and threatened them saying if they went ahead with the construction of the church, they would kill every one of them. The VHP activists said, “No one should build any church here; you better sell your land and get out of this area.”
The VHP activists further said if the Pastor and his believers refused to leave the place, they would lodge a complaint against them alleging forcible conversion in the area. “We will send you to jail.” They forced the believers to put tilak on their foreheads. The VHP men collected signature on a plain paper from one of the neighbours building his house near the church land.
They said, “We are in majority, you are just minorities. You cannot do anything. No Pastor, no politician has any guts to solve this issue. We are going to see your end.” The church did not have prayers last Sunday. The believers, especially the women, are living in fear.
All India Christian Council (aicc) has condemned the harassment meted out to the believers in the area. “We will take it up with the authorities concerned to solve the issue,” an aicc spokesperson said. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 11 August 2009 )
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