Church congregation pelted with STONES as 500 extremists storm building over a FLAG
HUNDREDS of extremists pelted stones at a church congregation in anger over a ripped flag.
BJP activists were angry their flag had been torn
A mob of about 500 Hindu activists stormed the Protestant church in Jobat, in India's Madhya Pradesh state, over the weekend.
The entrance of the church was damaged and several members of the congregation were injured.
They threw stones at members of the community, attacked our women and broke the church lamps
The attackers were furious a flag outside the church displaying the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) emblem had been torn.
It is the latest in a growing number of incidents of Hindu violence against India's growing Christian population over the past few years, International Christian Concern said.
Hinduism is popular in the state, but Christianity is gaining more followers
There were conflicting reports over police action during the attack, allegedly by the Hindu ultra-nationalist paramilitary group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP and the Bajrang Dal - the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
Alirajpur District Police Superintendent Meena Chauhan said officers were sent to the area as soon as they were called.
However, Pastor Emmanuel Ariel, from the church, said police stood by as extremists attacked the building.
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He said the flag had possibly been torn by the wind and the church had no part in desecrating the BJP flag.
The priest, said: "RSS activists, the BJP and Bajrang Dal, led by former district chief, threw stones at members of the community, attacked our women and broke the church lamps."
Jobat is in the north of Indida
Hindu temples are a more common sight in India than churches
He claimed "all this happened before the eyes of the police officers, who stood by as silent spectators".
Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, said the incident is a clear indicator intolerance and violence towards Christians in India is on the rise.
He said: "Religious tolerance and freedom of worship in India are deteriorating and violence is increasing."
Indian Christians have been on edge since 2008 when almost 100 Christians were massacred, 300 churches vandalised and 6,000 Christian homes were damaged in Odisha, eastern India.