Photo via indianchristians.in

Church burned down in Andhra Pradesh State, India

A group of Hindu radicals allegedly set fire to a church in Siddhapuram village located in Andhra Pradesh state, India, on Tuesday, May 5, reports Jacob Philip, assistant Correspondent to ANS, INDIA.

According to news released on the website of the All India Christian Council (www.christiancouncil.in), the Holy Sprit Church of God Ministry was the target for the fire attack by the radicals.

The website reported that the attack occurred at around 2 am. Noticing the fire, the believers immediately gathered around in a bid to save the church. But by that time all the furniture in the church was gutted.

According to Pastor Clinton who ministers the Holy Sprit Church of God, the attackers first destroyed the door of the church as it was kept locked and it was also told by him that once they were inside, they set fire to all the furniture, including the pulpit and some wooden bars supporting the slab sheets.

According to Pastor Clinton, the Hindu radicals belonging to the party called Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian People’s Party) had similarly destroyed another church in the same area.

“We do not create any problems in the area. Then why do they keep attacking us?” Pastor Clinton wondered as he spoke in an interview to a representative of the All India Christian Council. Pastor Clinton said that in the past they had some problems with the owners of the land surrounding the church as they built apartments all around.

“We do not know if they have any hand in the attack,” the Pastor added.

The Pastor, along with the believers, went to the nearby police station to file an FIR (First Information Report) and register a case against these Hindu Radicals.

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TAGS: India persecution anti-Christian violence All India Christian Council Hindu radicals

[05/11/2009]

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