Pastor John Lakra was taking his 18-month-old baby to the hospital for emergency treatment in Odisha state in late October, when hundreds of Hindu extremists surrounded his car.
A mob began hurling stones and hitting the windows with rods as they shouted curses at him. Earlier he had received word that Hindu extremists were looking for him regarding a text message and photo insulting the Hindu goddess Durga that a hacker had sent from his phone. He thought they only meant to talk with him.
He was pulled out of the car, slapped and beaten. After throwing him onto the road and kicking him, they picked him up and forced him onto a motorcycle. With hundreds following, they took him to a Durga idol and forced him to kneel before it even as they continued beating him.
They poured a gallon of petrol on him, and the pastor said he was praying: ‘Lord! I submit myself to you. May this bring glory only to you.’ While I was praying, I was so moved by the Holy Spirit. There was so much pain that I have not done enough, that I must share about my Lord’s love to so many, my journey is not over yet. These words rumbled in my heart.’
Hindus shouted that he should be given as a live sacrifice to the goddess, the pastor said.
There was then a power-cut, and within minutes, police reached the spot and rescued him. He was kept in jail for ten days until an investigator found the information had been sent from his phone by a hacker.
