Hindu extremists attack Christians, women and children in India

A group of Hindu extremists, numbering about 50 in all, attacked a Christian congregation in a village in east India, beating even women and children with rods.

According to Erik Morsehead of Mission India, an organization that helps equip believers through discipleship, the extremists told the Christians to leave the village and warned that if they refuse to do so, they would experience even worse consequences.

The Christians quickly left the village and went to another village to escape the extremists.

Morsehead said the police was not of any help to the Christians. On the contrary, they too warned the Christians of further beatings if they don't stop worshiping Jesus.

"With all this going on, the police refused to offer any assistance. In fact, they said the church planter himself, if he continues to lead people to Christ, they will beat hi worse than the extremists did," Morsehead said, according to Mission Network News.

India is 80 percent Hindu and about 14 percent Muslim. Christians belong to the minority, comprising only about 2 percent of the population.

Although India does not prohibit religious freedom for Christians, radical Hinduism has been encouraged since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power, according to Open Doors.

Modi is a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Under his rule, minorities have experienced regular attacks from Hindu extremists. The frequency of attacks could be driven by the government's refusal to condemn such actions.

Morsehead said Christian persecution in India is "more common than people realize" and happens "on a regular basis." He said it is more intense in some areas compared to others.

However, in spite of the attacks, Morsehead said God has been doing great things in India through the churches.

"We just ask everyone to join us in prayer as many of our sisters and brohters just go through unbelievable amounts of persecution," he said.