Pastor in India Traumatized after Attack

NEW DELHI, February 17 (Compass Direct News) – A pastor in India’s Rajasthan state who was stripped, beaten and wounded by Hindu extremists earlier this month is still traumatized, while police have yet to investigate due to family fears of further violence, security and hospital officials said. Pastor Hari Shankar Ninama, 65, was praying for an 8-year-old boy’s recovery from illness at a house in Ambarunda, Peepal Khoont, Pratapgarh district on Feb. 1 when at least 10 Hindu extremists arrived on motorbikes and stormed in, he said. The assailants beat him and, putting him on one of their motorbikes, took him outside the village, where they stripped off his clothes and struck him. “They criticized me with abusive language and accusations of forced conversion and made me repeat words after them,” Pastor Ninama said – still in visible pain, and sobbing. “Threatening to kill me if I continue to spread Christianity, they left me naked on the road and fled.” Area Sub-Inspector Bhagwat Singh told Compass the pastor’s family was afraid that a police investigation would lead to retaliation from the extremists. “Ninama’s daughter and son-in-law came to the police station requesting the police not to pursue the case,” he said, acknowledging that police had yet to investigate. Area source Sunny Meda told Compass that the extremists have threatened to burn down the home of the family of Pastor Ninama’s daughter if police prosecute. Dr. Ravi Upadhaya told Compass that Ninama’s injuries were emotional as well as physical. “He had a sharp wound behind his neck which bled, and the victim complained of internal chest pain,” Dr. Upadhaya said. “But more than physical pain, the 65-year-old man is mentally traumatized.”