Indian Pastor and his Church Attacked by Hindus

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

By Joseph C. DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

KARNATAKA, India (Worthy News)-- A pastor was attacked and his house church burnt by Hindus in Karnataka.

Mallappa Hanumanthappa Andrew of Bellakatte Village, Chitrdurga District, Karnataka, was attacked by six Hindu radicals while walking with his brother in broad daylight on Oct. 20. When his sibling intervened, he was also attacked, and then the six men burnt down the pastor's house church.

Despite sporadic opposition, Pastor Andrew, who has ministered in Bellakatte village for 15 years, was never physically attacked until now.

Police from Barmasagara arrested four suspects: Manjunath, Parashuram, Ramanna and Devaraj, but they have all been released thanks to the influence of local activists.

During the past year, Pastor Andrew was conducting prayer services in "Samadhana Prayer House" where about 25 believers regularly attended; he is married to Rudramma and together they have two children, 4 year-old Merina, and 8 month-old Merlina.