100 Hindu Extremists Storm Indian House Church, Beat Pastor Unconscious While Women and Children Are Attacked

Hindu Mob of 100 Storms House Church in India, Beats Pastor Unconscious and Attacks Women and Children

A Hindu nationalist mob of over 100 people stormed a house church in Kotwara village, Khandwa District, Madhya Pradesh state, India on February 7, 2026, beating Pastor Ramesh Barela, 42, unconscious while he led a prayer service for 16 believers from four families.

The attack began around 9 p.m. when members of Hindu extremist groups surrounded the home of Naval Singh, where the worship service was being held. The mob broke down the doors and descended on the worshippers with wooden sticks and fists.

They hit me from all sides, and some of them were constantly attacking me from the back. I could not see them, and suddenly I lost consciousness.

Pastor Barela recounted the brutality of the assault, stating that he repeatedly told the attackers that physical violence was not a solution, but they continued to beat him. The mob also targeted women and children present at the service, pulling women's sarees and blouses while kicking small children.

Two of Singh's grandchildren sustained internal chest injuries from the violence. Both Pastor Barela and Singh were hospitalized. The pastor spent four days in a government hospital before being transferred to a private facility for two additional days of treatment.

A Christian present at the service called the police, who arrived and took the injured to the hospital. However, in a disturbing turn, police filed competing cases. While Singh's complaint named three assailants, a mob member counter filed charges against the Christians, alleging forced conversion attempts.

Pastor Barela, Singh, and Dashrath Vishwakarma were charged with "voluntarily causing hurt," "criminal intimidation involving grievous hurt," and unlawful religious conversion under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021. The victims became the accused.

Christian Persecution in India Reaches Alarming Levels as Hindu Nationalists Target House Churches

India ranked 12th on Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List for Christian persecution, a dramatic rise from 31st place in 2013. Anti conversion laws are now enacted in 12 Indian states and counting. Even constitutionally approved activities such as prayer meetings can lead to accusations, arrests, and interrogations.

This attack is part of a growing pattern. Just weeks earlier in January 2026, Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was assaulted and paraded through Parjang village in Odisha state by Hindu nationalists. In December 2025, a mob attacked Christians caroling before Christmas, beating another pastor unconscious with stones.

The Crusader's Opinion

A mob of 100 men against 16 worshippers, including women and small children. They kicked toddlers in the chest and tore the clothes off of women. Then the police charged the victims with crimes. This is what systemic religious persecution looks like, and the world says nothing. Imagine if 100 Christians stormed a Hindu temple in London or New York and beat everyone inside unconscious. It would be global headlines for a month. But when it happens to Christians in India, the silence is deafening. The blood of the innocent cries out, and God is not mocked. Every hand that struck those believers, every officer who filed charges against the victims instead of the attackers, will answer for it.

Take Action

• Pray specifically for Pastor Ramesh Barela's full recovery and for the false charges against the Christians to be dropped.
• Support persecuted Christians in India through The Shepherd's Shield, which provides direct aid to believers under attack.
• Donate to Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs to fund legal defense and medical care for persecuted Indian Christians.
• Contact the Indian Embassy in your country to express concern about rising religious persecution. In the US, call (202) 939 7000 or email info@indianembassy.org.
• Share this story on social media to break the silence. Tag International Christian Concern and use #PersecutedChurch and #IndiaChristianPersecution.