A group belonging to a Sikh warrior order recently attacked a pastor and another Christian with swords and knives in northern India’s Punjab state for leading church worship in their village.
FourNihang Sikhs, who as members of the traditional warrior group are permitted to carry such weapons, attacked pastor Gurjeet Singh and his younger brother Gurdeep Singh on April 18 in Amritsar District, a relative said.
The assailants first told Gurdeep Singh, and later Pastor Singh, “We have warned you earlier as well to not conduct church and not convert people, but you have not paid heed,” according to an eyewitness.
The attack
The four Nihang Sikhs found Gurdeep Singh standing outside the house where the worship service is held at about 9 a.m.
“Finding him alone, these men pounced on him and struck him with swords and knives,” the eyewitness told Morning Star News.
Hearing the commotion, Pastor Singh rushed outside, and he rushed to rescue his brother. The mob swiftly turned to the pastor and struck him with several blows of the sword, Kaur said.
“They were targeting his head,” she said. “To protect his head, Gurjeet shielded every blow with his hand and thus sustained severe cuts on both his hands, his arm, his palm and they almost chopped off his thumb.”
Gurdeep Singh, shielding his head with his hands, sustained deep cuts on his head, hands and one wrist.
No charges filed
According to this most recent report, the Christians had yet to file a police complaint.
India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The country was 31st in 2013, but its position worsened after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
