Photo: CNS A priest was attacked by a Hindu mob in northern India, and then arrested by police after Hindus accused him of causing the disturbance.
Fr Vineet Vincent Pereira was conducting a prayer service in Ghohana town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh when right-wing Hindus attacked him.
The priest lives in a house with a few lay brothers and five additional residents who are ill. He holds prayer services every day, which are open to people of all faiths.
Right-wing Hindu groups have accused the priest of trying to convert the local Hindu population.
The mob that attacked the priest were allegedly members of Hindu Yuva Vahini, a radical Hindu youth group that tries to ‘re-convert’ Hindus that have switched religions.
After the attack, Fr Pereira said police took him into custody – allegedly for his own safety – but then charged him the next day for rioting and unlawful assembly.
“Fr Pereira lives a hermit-like existence and regularly conducts prayers for around 1,500 of these people at his ashram. None of them have become Christians, but they follow Christian spiritual values,” said Fr John Abraham, the vicar general for the Diocese of Varanasi.
Incidents
According to Daiji World, a local news portal, Fr Abraham said the attack was just another in a series of incidents against Christians.
Fr Pereira reportedly took the attack and later arrest in good spirits.
“This is a blessing, the Lord’s plan. It has happened for his glory. I am praying for them. I have no anger towards them.
“My earnest desire is that they should come to know the Love of Christ”.
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, with over 225 million people. Despite this, it has one of the smallest Christian populations: only 350,000, or 0.18%. The national average is 2.3%. Since 2017, Uttar Pradesh has been ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group. The party has controlled the national government since 2014.
Christian leaders in Uttar Pradesh have said attacks on the minority have increased since the BJP took control of the state government.