Pastor's murder: Christians to move national rights body
According to the petition four men attacked the pastor at his home in Vikarabad village of Ranga Reddy district, on Jan. 11 night.
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| Pastor B. Sanjeevulu died in Yododa Hospital, Hyderabad, on Jan. 13, 2014 |
The Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches (APFC), a body bishops and heads of major Christian Denominations in the state, said no one has been arrested even 10 days after the Jan. 11 murder.
It wanted NHRC to intervene to get compensation and protection to the family of the murdered Pastor B. Sanjeevulu.
The petition also sought to ensure security of Christians in the state to help them exercise their fundamental rights, "especially freedom of religion and expression without fear and obstruction."
It said a terrorist group called Hindu Vahini had claimed that they killed the pastors in 2004-05, who had been found dead in mysterious circumstances. "Now that the general and state elections are around, such groups have become more active," the petition said.
"The visit of VHP leader Praveen Thogadia to Hyderabad in the first week of January 2014 seemed to have emboldened them. The State of Andhra Pradesh records one of the highest numbers of atrocities on Christian preachers and members," the petition noted.
According to the petition four men attacked the pastor at his home in Vikarabad village of Ranga Reddy district, on Jan. 11 night.
The men said they wanted to “pray with the pastor,” but as soon as the pastor came out of his house, they stabbed him several times and beat him with clubs and sticks. The pastor was hospitalized but died of his injuries on Jan. 13.
Christian leaders in Hyderabad organized a protest. Some of them marched outside the offices of the Chief Minister to demand the arrest of the culprits.
On Jan. 15, a delegation of Christian leaders and legislators met with state Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and he promised speedy investigation.
Source Press release
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