Christianity CRACKDOWN: Families 'living in fear' as angry mob DRIVES them from village
TEN Christian families have been driven out of their homes by a violent mob in India after refusing to give up their faith.
The families were forced to flee their village in the Latehar district, in eastern India, earlier last month due to their religion.
They are "living in fear" and have not returned home because local authorities have been unable or unwilling to help them.
The Christians said they told to renounce their religion by Hindu radicals at a village meeting on June 5.
When they refused, they were severely beaten and driven out of the village.
We are living in fear, away from our homes
One of those forced to flee from Pahli village, 25-year-old Shyamlal Kujju, said: "We are living in fear, away from our homes.
"It is almost a month since my house is locked by Hindu radicals and there is no attempt by the police or the government to resolve the issue.
"Our lives are devastated as we hide ourselves from the Hindu radicals.
"We do not know how long this will continue."
Attacks against Christians have increased in India's Jharkhand state since last September, when officials criminalised religious conversion.
Pastor Rajdev Toppo said, "Things have become increasingly difficult to serve as a pastor in Latehar.
"On a daily basis, I am threatened and ridiculed for teaching Christians the word of God.
"The local government has not been helpful including when cases of the Christians were taken to the police and administration."
William Stark, regional manager of anti-persecution charity International Christian Concern, said he was "deeply concerned" by the news.
He added: "Article 25 of India's constitution says that every individual has the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate the religion of his or her choice.
"This right has obviously been denied to these 10 Christian families in Pahli village.
"Local authorities must take decisive action to correct this denial of rights and arrest those involved in the June 5 attack.
"Without enforcement, India's religious freedom rights will remain only words on paper and attacks on Christians and other religious minorities will continue to rise in both number and severity."