DAVANGERE, JAN 04 (SAR NEWS): A Christian pastor was attacked January 2 while he was conducting a prayer service for a nomadic group here.
According to Bangalore-based Global Council of Indian Christians, its Davangere coordinator, Pastor Isaac Samuel, was attacked with choppers around 8.30 p.m. by a group of Hindu fundamentalists while he was conducting a New Year prayer service for believers belonging to the Akki Pikki nomadic community living in a tent near the Davanagere bus stand.
The gang objected to the prayer service and attacked the 40-year-old pastor with choppers on his head.
GCIC said the attack was clearly aimed at killing Samuel. "But the chopper nearly missed the head and landed on the shoulder, grievously wounding the pastor who was rushed to the Chigateri Government Hospital in Davanagere where the doctors had to put more than a dozen stitches to the wound," it said.
Samuel is undergoing treatment in the emergency ward and is said to be out of danger.
Davanagere Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nayak, and other police officers from Gandhi Centre Police Station, visited the spot and are inquiring into the incident. However, no arrests have been made so far.
Pastor Samuel belongs to the Vishwavani Ministry. His wife Lalitha, and two of their children, Kenneth and Kelvin, who had accompanied the pastor from their Vinobnagar residence, were unfortunate witnesses to the ghastly attack.
The Shrine of Bellary Arogya Mathe was blessed and dedicated on 8th September 2000 on the feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother Mary in memory of the great jubilee 2000 and the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Bellary