This report has been corrected from its broadcast. The car carrying the explosives in New Delhi was driven by a Muslim doctor, not necessarily owned by a Muslim doctor.
India (MNN) — Police continue the hunt for all culprits behind last Monday’s suicide bombing outside of the Red Fort in New Delhi. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the attack that killed at least 13 a “terror incident” done by “anti-national forces.”
So far, the investigation has revealed that the car carrying the explosives was driven by a Muslim doctor, Umar Nabi. Over the weekend, authorities arrested the owner of that car, an alleged accomplice.
People look around in a colorful market in Pakistan (Photo courtesy of Umar Farooq via Unsplash)
John Pudaite with Bibles For the World says most of the violence between religions in India occurs between Hindus and Muslims.
“This is a really interesting development, seeing here the educated among the Muslims who are serving in India becoming radicalized and getting involved,” says Pudaite. “This is a huge cause of concern, certainly for the country of India.”
The clash between the faiths crosses national borders as well. Tensions between majority-Muslim Pakistan and majority-Hindu India have been exceptionally high since April, when a terror attack in Pahalgam, India-administered Kashmir, killed dozens of civilians and sparked a four-day war between the nations.
As if to underscore this, hours before the Red Fort blast, police in India-administered Kashmir uncovered a terror cell involving at least seven people, including two Kashmiri doctors. Then, hours after the attack in India, Pakistan suffered its own terrorist incident in its capital.
A target on their backs
Pudaite notes that there’s another layer in this tragedy to be aware of: whether Christians will be harmed.
Women wearing colorful clothing walk into the historic Agra Fort in Agra, India. (Photo courtesy of IMB)
“One of my first thoughts when I heard [about the suicide bombing was], ‘Oh boy. Where are the Christians going to get attacked in revenge for this?’” he says. “Even though we had nothing to do with it there in India, it seems like we are the easy target for revenge from either side.”
That’s because attackers know that while their enemies might strike back, Christians won’t strike back. It leads to a sobering trend: On average, two incidents of persecution against Christians happen every day in India.
Now that you know, keep watching India. Pray that Indian authorities will administer justice fairly. Pray for believers who may be caught in the backlash.
“These are the tensions. This is real, happening,” says Pudaite. “Just to be able to pray into that context a little more informedly, that these are real conflicts going on and real threats that they [Christians] face every day. And yet within this, we see so many wonderful Christians, ministries, [and] churches doing outreach among their fellow Indians. It’s just amazing.”
Header photo: “Through the barricades” | The iconic Red Fort or Lal Qila — the 17th-century historic fort in Old Delhi, India built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — as seen beyond the security barricades [Photo: October 2022] (Stock photo and caption courtesy of Brijender Dua via Unsplash)
