by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
NEW DELHI (Worthy News) – A pastor was recovering Wednesday after being beaten unconscious when a mob of Hindu nationalists attacked a house church gathering in central India, assaulting worshippers that included women and children, Christians familiar with the case said.
Pastor Ramesh Barela, 42, had traveled to lead a prayer service at the home of a believer in Kotwara village in the Khandwa district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on February 7, local sources told the Christian news service Morning Star News.
About 16 believers from four families had gathered for worship when more than 100 people linked to Hindu nationalist groups reportedly surrounded the house late in the evening.
Witnesses said the crowd forced open the doors and rushed inside, targeting the pastor. Barela said attackers struck him repeatedly with their hands and feet and attempted to drag him outside while others assaulted members of the congregation.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN ASSAULTED
Women and children were also attacked during the incident, according to the pastor and other witnesses. Some women were reportedly pulled by their clothing while children were kicked or shoved during the chaos.
Two young children suffered internal chest injuries, while the attackers also vandalized the house and broke furniture, Christians said.
Barela said the mob appeared to be searching for Bibles as alleged proof of forced religious conversions, though none were found.
During the beating the pastor reportedly lost consciousness and was later taken by police to a hospital in the nearby city of Khandwa, where he remained hospitalized for several days.
POLICE CASES FILED
Police later registered two cases after the incident — one based on a complaint by the Christian host of the meeting and another filed by a member of the mob accusing the Christians of attempting to convert Hindus.
Local Christians say the accusations are false and part of a pattern in which victims of attacks are themselves charged under anti-conversion laws such as the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act.
No arrests had been reported in connection with the attack at the time of reporting, according to local Christian sources.
GROWING PRESSURE ON CHRISTIANS
Christian advocacy groups say attacks against Christians have increased in several parts of India in recent years amid the rise of Hindu nationalist movements linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to the advocacy group Open Doors, India — a Hindu-majority nation — ranked 12th on its 2026 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution, compared with 31st place in 2013.
Pastor Barela, who has remained away from his home while seeking legal protection, asked fellow believers to pray for his family as he faces charges stemming from the incident.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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