Hindu fundamentalists attacked a Christian missionary compound in India, severely injuring several people.
Sunday's attack was the second within a month at the Gospel Echoing Missionary Society facility in Rohtas district, Bihar state, reported Compass Direct, a news service that monitors persecution of Christians.
In the previous attack, Aug. 31, a mob of about 800 held the compound under siege for three days, injuring 12 Christian residents.
On Sunday, one man received a spinal injury that left him partially paralyzed, Compass reported.
A mission representative said about 16 attackers came from the nearby villages of Shankarpur and Bhedibigha at 6:30 p.m. and broke open the gate of the compound.
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Open Doors notes other persecution-related news from India:
Christians in Chattisgarh, India, organized a five-day rally two weeks ago to protest increased attacks on churches in the state. About 80 Christian leaders attended the rally, coordinated by Arun Pannalal of the Church of North India, following Sept. 11 violence in Raipur in which Hindu fundamentalists destroyed property at one church and struck worshipers at another, according to Compass.
On Sept.22, Hindu fundamentalists attacked and threatened several Christians in the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh state, accusing them of desecrating a Hindu idol. One Christian was admitted to a hospital with serious injuries, while another was detained at the Kalyanpura police station for more than 32 hours.
The radical Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, has called for a comprehensive law to ban
religious conversions in India as part of a new campaign to stem the "increasing" number of conversions around the country. Addressing media Aug. 25, Mohan Joshi, national secretary of the council, said anti-conversion laws in some states were not stringent enough to curb religious conversions, reported Compass.
India, which is 83 percent Hindu and 11 percent Muslim, has 25 million Christians, who represent 2.4 percent of the population.
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