India (MNN) ― The All-India Christian Council says Hindu extremists have offered a bounty on Christian heads.
A spokesman for the AICC went on record saying, "People are being offered rewards to kill, and to destroy churches and Christian properties."
Dr. Faiz Rahman, chairman of Good News India, notes on his Web site that the last wave of violence left 9,000 Christian homes and businesses destroyed, more than 300 churches destroyed, and almost 300 believers martyred. There are roughly 100,000 people hiding in the jungles, with no food, water or shelter -- many of them forced to leave their crops unharvested in the fields as winter approaches.
Rahman agrees with the AICC's report. According to his information, the going price to kill a pastor is U.S. $2,500, and the price to kill a resistant Christian lay leader is U.S. $1000. The refugees have also been told not to come back unless they become Hindus.
The new reports are alarming. Dave Stravers is with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India. While he couldn't directly confirm the bounty, he says, "It is entirely in keeping with our observations on the ground. Every town, village and city has posters that immortalize the swami who was killed, who had urged the extinction of Christians. On every poster it says, 'Stop conversions.'"
At its height, the violence spilled out of Orissa and spread to 14 other states. Rather than settling down, it looks like another wave of violence is coming. "There was a huge rally, about 10,000 people, and they're urging the government, 'Stop the Christians.' And they promised that they would launch another attack by Christmas Day."
Stravers says Mission India is shifting their resources to safer areas of ministry. "Christians cannot gather openly. In this case, it's best to not be provocative. So the literacy classes and some of the Children's Bible Clubs have been stopped, and some church planters have been reassigned to other locations."
Pray that militant influences in the government will continue to decrease and that freedom of religion will be recognized throughout India. Pray, too, for the safety of believers working in India, often falsely accused of forcible conversion.
