Relief workers arrested in Orissa

Seven Christians working for the Discipleship Centre relief agency in Bhadrak district, Orissa, India were arrested by police for forcible conversion on November 4. According to a November 6 report from the Evangelical Fellowship of India, the workers were travelling to their office by motorbike when a collision occurred with another cyclist. A mob of approximately 50 people then gathered around the Christians and began to attack them. The mob swelled to approximately 400 people after it was joined by members of Hindu militant groups who shouted anti-Christian slogans. The police eventually arrived on scene and took the Christians into custody and charges of forcible conversion were brought against them. At the time of the report, the Christians remained in detention.

Pray that these charges will be dismissed. Pray for the safety of believers working with relief agencies in India as they are often falsely accused of forcible conversion.

Learn more about India's persecuted Christians by visiting the India Country Report.

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India Profile

Location
Asia

Population
1,189,172,906 (July 2011 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), Mongoloid and other (3)

Religion (%)
Hindu (74.33), Muslim (14.20), Christian* (5.84), Sikh (1.86), Other (3.27)
*For many reasons, the most recent census (2001) significantly underenumerated Christians at 2.34%.
Christian researchers in India indicate much higher results, even up to 9%. New 2011 census results are expected before 2013.

Leader
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil

Government type
Federal republic

Legal system
Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

Statistics provided by CIA World Factbook and Operation World.