Pastor in India Endures Brutal Attack as Police Allegedly Fail to Act
In a disturbing incident in Odisha, India, Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik found himself at the mercy of an enraged mob while local police reportedly stood by without intervening. The attack, which involved a group of 150 villagers, has sparked fears among the congregation that the authorities left their leader to face the violence alone.
Pastor Naik, aged 35, was subjected to a harrowing ordeal on January 4. The mob forced him to walk on thorns and attempted to make him drink a mixture of water and cow dung while parading him through Parjang village in the Dhenkanal District. His family has since relocated due to safety concerns.
The assault began during a worship service at Naik’s house church. Approximately 40 individuals, led by members of the Bajarang Dal and cow vigilantes, entered the venue and demanded that Naik step outside. When he did not immediately comply, they dragged him out and began to beat him.
Naik’s wife, Bandana, and their two daughters witnessed the attack. Bandana managed to escape with the children and sought help at the local police station. However, officers insisted she provide a written report before any action could be taken. Desperate, she found someone to write the report for her, but the delay meant her husband continued to suffer.
Meanwhile, Naik was taken to a Hindu temple where the mob tied him to a pole and repeatedly slapped, kicked, and hit him with bamboo sticks. His attempts to resist drinking the contaminated water were met with further violence. Despite police presence in the area, the mob continued their assault unabated.
It’s reported that police officers who initially approached the scene left without intervening. When they later returned, they commented on Naik’s condition in a manner that suggested they expected him to be more severely harmed.
As the mob paraded Naik past the police station, where his wife was waiting, they showed no fear of repercussions. Ultimately, police rescued Naik hours later, finding him still tied to the temple pole.
Police failures in handling the situation have drawn criticism. Naik was not immediately taken to a hospital, and officers allegedly coerced him into signing documents that downplayed the attack. A formal complaint was eventually registered against several individuals involved in the assault.
Pastor Naik and his family have since moved to an undisclosed location, deciding not to return to their home village. The trauma of the incident has left deep scars on the family, with Naik’s daughters experiencing significant distress.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in India, where Hindu nationalism and religious conversion issues continue to provoke violence. The rise in attacks against Christians coincides with the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government has been accused of fostering a hostile environment for religious minorities.
India’s ranking on the Open Doors’ World Watch List has worsened, now sitting at 12th among countries where Christians face the most persecution.
For further details, read the original article at Morning Star News.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
