Christian Mission attacked in Jabalpur, Madhya Prayesh

EFI NEWS PRESS RELEASE

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Phone: +91 011 26431133; 26423726

Christian Mission attacked in Jabalpur, Madhya Prayesh

Two staff members of Youth With a Mission (YWAM) were the targets in a recent case of violence against the Christian community in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

With no substantial proof of conversion but in sheer anger borne out of hatred against the Christians, five attackers of Bajrang Dal along with Dharam Jagran Manch workers attacked the YWAM office of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.

On Friday night, YWAM Central India Director Mukesh Jacob and his wife Sarla Jacob were standing outside their house when 15-17 people approached them. They initially introduced themselves as CBI officials and when asked about their I-Cards by Mukesh Jacob, they started beating the couple.

Led by one Mukesh Agarwal they then proceeded to ransack the YWAM Bible Study Centre and the couple’s house.

The miscreants damaged the furniture and belongings of the family. The YWAM office and study Centre were vandalized and the office furniture including the computer was damaged beyond repair.

On the complaint filed by Mukesh Jacob the police arrested Bajrang Dal workers – Yogesh Agarwal, Keder Namdeo, Arun Pillai, Pushpendra Singh and Inder Bhan. The five were arrested under the charges of ransacking the private property and assaulting the couple.

Police, however, also detained Mukesh and Sarla Jacob under Section 4 of Freedom of Religious Act and Literature relating to conversion in the Gorakhpur Police station area. They were later released on bail.

With five attacks in the month of January, the BJP led government in the State has proved nothing short of a disaster. The axe of Hindutva fanatical Brigade fell this time on one couple under the pretext of “forced conversion”. It is a matter of strong concern not only for the Christian community but also for other minority communities which are also languishing in the fear of their lives.

Suggested action:

The EFI is deeply concerned about this case and requests your immediate intervention.

• Please uphold the Christians in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh in your prayers

• Please write a letter to the addresses listed below expressing your concern about this case.

Rev Richard Howell
General Secretary
Evangelical Fellowship of India
Vice Chairman
International Council World Evangelical Alliance

EFI is a Charter member of the World Evangelical Alliance, an NGO in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

President of India,

His Excellency Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Azad

Rashtrapati Bhavan,

New Delhi – 110 004, India

Phone : +91-11-23015321,

Fax : +91-11-23017290 / +91-11-23017824

Website : http://presidentofindia.nic.in

E-mail :

[email protected]

Prime Minister’s Office

Hon’ble Dr. Manmohan Singh

Office Address Room No. 152,

South Block,

New Delhi – 110001, India

Phone: +91-11-23012312

Fax: +91-11-23016857

Superintendent of Police

Shri D.Shrinivash Rao

Near Indra Market 482001

Jabalpur,

Madhya Pradesh

Fax +91-0761-2676101

Phone +91-0761-2676133 / +91-0761-2676111

Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh

Hon’ble Nagendra Singh

Kashna Bunglow, Karbala Road, Old Secretriate,

Bhopal,

Madhya Pradesh

Phone: +91-0755-2730927

Fax: +91-0755-2730929

Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of India

Hon’ble Dr. Justice A. S. Anand

Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg

New Delhi – 110001, India

Tel: + 91-11-23074448

E-mail: [email protected]