Pastor, Wife Beaten in Uttar Pradesh

On 3 July, an angry mob accused Pastor John C.V Samuel from Assembly of God’s Church (AGC) of forceful conversion, beat him up and his wife in Manpuri, Uttar Pradesh.

The incident took place when Pastor Samuel, his wife and some believers went to attend the burial service of Anil Saxena, who attended Pastor Samuel’s church for the past two years. Saxena reportedly committed suicide on Saturday night after he had an argument with his father.

The angry mob suddenly rushed on the pastor and his wife, mercilessly beat them up and falsely accused them of forceful conversion and of being the cause of Saxena’s death.

Saxena’s wife intervened and told the mob that they went to the church by their own free will and nobody has forced them.

The pastor’s wife called the police by phone. The police arrived at the scene and rescued the couple from the angry mob and took them to the Pushpanjali Hospital, Agra where they were admitted.

Area Christian leaders submitted a police complaint

An Appeal to write to Authorities

As concerned Christians, kindly write to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh appealing to her to safe guard the rights of the minority communities and to give protection to churches against attacks and to take immediate action against the perpetrators of violence.

Kumari Mayawati
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

(O) Tel: (522) 2239296
(O) Fax: (522) 2239234
(R) Tel: (522) 221122
(R) Fax: (522) 220550

– efi