Burial crosses destroyed in attacks in India

Burial crosses destroyed in attacks in India

UKKINADKA, India — Christians have been attacked, church property vandalized and burial crosses destroyed in ongoing attacks in India’s Kerala state.

Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, told AsiaNews that the most recent attack occurred at the cemetery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ in Ukkinadka on April 16. Unknown vandals destroyed the cross at the burial place and damaged another seven tombs, The Christian Post reported.

Others attacked in the past month include a group of 150 students, a priest and two nuns in the diocese of Neyyattinkara and the vicar at the Orthodox church of St. Greogrios of Punnamoodu in Alappuzha, who was attacked the day before Easter. The church also was vandalized in the Easter weekend attack.

George said “the surge in hostile acts and intolerance towards Christians is alarming.” Others have noted Hindu nationalists have been converting Dalit Christians back to Hinduism in a pushback against the growth of Christianity. (TAB)