INDIA: FURTHER VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN MANIPUR

THE Response to a peaceful protest turned violent in Manipur, India, and Christians have been especially singled out for persecution. At least 70 believers have been killed, and large numbers remain homeless.

More violence has broken out in Manipur in recent days, after a lull. The area affected has a community comprising people from various different tribes – Kuki, Metiei and Rongmai people – and different faiths. The community’s Kuki leaders had advised vendors not to operate their businesses as it was a warzone. Local sources say that a mob of Hindu extremists from the Meitei group took advantage of the situation and started to attack abandoned Christian houses. (The Christians who lived in these houses had already fled the area, during the initial violence.)

The situation further escalated on 22 May, when some of the Meiteis attacked ICI Mar Church and burned it down, along with pastors’ houses and another building belonging to the church. At the time of the arson attack, there were six people in that building – they had to flee the fire. During the initial violence, 400 Christians from the ICI Mar Church had already had to flee the area and are taking refuge in camps or neighbouring states. A local believer is reporting that all their homes have been burned down.

“The attacks on churches have not come to an end,” says Open Doors local partner Yohan Murray*. “The churches and Christian houses and properties are constantly attacked. Though the government claims of maintaining peace and order, we do not see the results, every second night there is clashes taking place.”

Please keep praying for all affected by the violence in Manipur, and for those trying to bring peace to the situation.