Mumbai – Seven Christians working with the Indian Missionary Society (IMS) in India’s Gujarat state were released on bail this morning. The group was charged with attempted murder after Hindu extremists waylaid and assaulted them last week. The violence follows an amendment to the anti-conversion law in Gujarat state.

Extremists beat the group, took their valuables and warned them of dire consequences if they continued to share the gospel in the area. One of the extremists, Kanji Nayak, then filed a complaint against the eight, claiming that the Christians had tried to shoot him after he refused to convert.

An eighth member of the group, Pastor Dasrath Nanji Dilwad, remains in judicial custody and his case has been transferred to the High Court. Dilwad was also charged with misuse of a firearm.

The group of eight IMS missionaries was returning home from a prayer meeting last Wednesday afternoon (September 20) when the attack took place. Pastor Dilwad was accompanied by his wife Manjula Bhen; Mankar Samsu Katila and his wife Saburi Bhen; and four other male companions, Valaibhai Santubhai Damor, Samsubhemla Katila, Gala Sabur Patel and Madhu Jagan Baria.

As they began the trip home, approximately 15 extremists surrounded them, beating them with wooden clubs. One of the women, Manjula Bhen, suffered widespread bruising and swelling after the attack.

“At first we thought they were just robbers,” she told Compass. “But they kept hitting us with wooden clubs and abused us for coming to preach in their village. They even warned us to stay away from their village and not come back to convert people.”

Before fleeing, the mob confiscated two mobile phones, a gold chain and earrings, some cash and the Bibles carried by their Christian victims.

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