Eight Christians were, in late August, still awaiting the outcome of their trial after they were arrested for distributing pamphlets about Jesus during a trauma seminar in a Christian school.
They were the first to be arrested under the new constitution, but in the days that followed others were attacked. Six people were attacked by four of their neighbours, who beat them with steel rods. Other Christian families living nearby tried to stop them, but they were fought off.
‘The people who assaulted us live near our house’, said Sunita Kumar, the wife of a local pastor, Suraj. ‘They pick on us for small reasons, but we stay silent because we are concerned about the safety of our children.’
Biased police
‘When I fell on the ground, they kicked me on my back several times’, said Suraj. ‘My back hurt immensely when I was finally taken to the hospital. We could be attacked again any time. They openly threaten us and local police are in their favour. I am very afraid.’ The police came after about 45 minutes and Sanjiv Nepali was arrested; he remained in prison for a few days, and was then released on bail, arranged through his influential connections.
