India: Evangelist Attacked, Seriously Wounded by Hindu Extremists

Armed Hindu extremists attacked an evangelist who goes by the single name of Baidhar on June 15 in Orissa, India, seriously wounding him, Compass Direct News reports. According to the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), the extremists attacked Baidhar while he was returning home from a prayer meeting at a Christian's home in the village of Mitrapur. Baidhar was bleeding heavily when rescued by Christians and taken to a nearby hospital. When the radicals learned that the evangelist had been rescued, about 50 Hindu extremists mounted an attack on 12 Christian families at 8:30 p.m., seriously injuring about 20 of them. They also ransacked their houses and tore the clothes of some of the young women. The Christians approached officials for help, the GCIC reported.