A pastor in Uttar Pradesh has forgiven his attackers despite losing hearing in one ear after Hindu extremists tortured him, pressured police to falsely charge him and prevented doctors from treating him in late September.
Pastor Abhay Sagar, 37, of Biswan town in Sitapur District, was about to begin preaching when he was attacked. 25 men from Hindu extremist groups Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad barged into the schoolroom where the congregation was meeting, according to the pastor’s wife.
Beaten until bloody
Unarmed, the Hindus asked if they could speak with the pastor, and he accompanied them outside as they shouted ‘Hail Lord Ram’. They took him to a nearby school where they beat him until he bled, tore his clothes off and struck his genitals.
Pastor Sagar said he praised God as an act of faith during the assault. ‘I was screaming, “Hallelujah, hallelujah”, but my voice was gone. Nobody could hear me.’ They took him to a police station and registered a report against him and his wife. The police station House Officer didn’t allow him to go to a hospital until the police office was flooded with calls from Christian organisations and advocates in Delhi.
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