Hindu extremists dragged an independent pastor to a police station in southern India’s Karnataka state on Sunday, June 11, accusing him of converting Hindus to Christianity. They beat Pastor Sundar Rao severely both inside the police station and after he was released the following day. The pastor remains in the hospital, recuperating from his injuries. Police did nothing to intervene during the beatings, said a local Christian who asked to remain anonymous. “The extremists forced Rao to sign a piece of blank paper inside the police station,” the source added. “They also told him the land he had bought for a church would instead be used for constructing a temple.” (Compass Direct)

* Radio programs in 12 languages (English, Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, Chattisgarhi, Bangla, Bhojpuri, Telegu, Marwari, Marathi, Santhali and Kuruk) air to India from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra. The programs are produced at the ministry’s studios in New Delhi, India.

HINDU MILITANTS USE BULLDOZER TO DESTROY CHURCH IN INDIA

Hindu militants in the area of Bethumangala, a village near Bangalore in southern India, used a bulldozer to demolish a local church Friday, June 9. They also beat the veteran pastor for refusing to leave. Witnesses report that the leader of the Hindu group, Minirathana, entered into an argument with the pastor, known only as Aaron, telling him to leave the church and the area. But they pastor refused, even when the militants began beating him. The attackers left, only to return with a bulldozer which they used to demolish the church. The pastor immediately went to the local police to lodge a complaint, but they refused to take action. The police threatened the pastor if he did not accept a “compromise.” Instead, he sought support from leaders in Bangalore who alerted members of the All India Christian Council. (All India Christian Council)

SAUDI POLICE ARREST 4 EAST AFRICAN CHRISTIANS AT WORSHIP SERVICE

Ten Saudi Arabian police armed with wooden clubs raided a private Christian worship meeting in the coastal city of Jeddah on Friday, June 9, arresting four East African citizens leading the service. At press time, the two Ethiopian and two Eritrean Christians remained in the city’s deportation jail. More than 100 Eritreans, Ethiopians and Filipinos were gathered for worship in a home in Jeddah’s Al-Rowaise district at 11 a.m. Friday. Startled worshipers brought chairs to seat the policemen who sat and waited with clubs in hand for the three-hour worship service to conclude before arresting Ethiopians Mekbeb Telahun and Masai Wendewesen and Eritreans Fekre Gebremedhin and Dawit Uqbay. One Christian who spoke with them by telephone reported they were “doing fine, with OK morale.” But he said he did not know how they were being treated. (Compass Direct)

BAPTIST MAN DEPORTED FROM TURKMENISTAN FOR ‘RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY’

Aleksandr Frolov, a Baptist with Russian citizenship, was deported from the Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan Saturday, June 10, because of his religious activity. Local Baptists said that Frolov’s latest problems began after he visited Russia. After his return, three officials came to his home and confiscated his residence permit. Officials accused him of attempting to import Christian literature, failing to notify the Migration Service of his exit from the country, and holding worship services in his home. Frolov is now apart from his Turkmen wife and their 3-year-old son and 5-month-old daughter. Local Baptists are urging believers to pray that Frolov would be allowed to return to his family and hold worship services freely. They are also appealing for an end to restrictions on receiving Christian literature and for believers to be able to travel freely to visit other congregations. (Forum 18 News Service)

* HCJB World Radio works in partnership with Back to the Bible to air Christian programs in the Turkmen language. Broadcasts began in 2001 and have been aired daily since 2003.

BELIEVERS WORLDWIDE TO HOLD WEEK OF PRAYER FOR NORTH KOREA

The Global Week of Prayer for North Korea, organized by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and partner agencies worldwide, will take place June 19-25. It will include prayer and protests against the gross human rights violations perpetrated against the North Korean people. The persecution of Christians in North Korea “may be the worst anywhere in the world,” states CSW in a press release. “Despite the secrecy surrounding the country, information on the terrible oppression, statewide enforced idolatry and utterly brutal persecution of the Christians has become increasingly available in recent years. China refuses to acknowledge the existence of North Korean refugees within its territory, and those found by the Chinese authorities are returned to North Korea where they face torture and even death in the most serious of cases.” CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas added, “We encourage all Christians and churches to take up this call to prayer during the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea, and especially on Sunday, June 25, the 56th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. We are anxious that the horrific suffering and darkness overshadowing the people of North Korea should finally be demolished.” (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

Copyright ăHCJB World Radio 2006