International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Hindu activists assaulted staff of the Good Shepherd School in Andhra Pradesh, India, on May 29th.
Three Hindu radicals approached school staff in the village of Ippallapally and accused them of converting Hindus to Christianity at Good Shepherd. The Hindu radicals shoved and hit several teachers, and warned them to stop working in the village. They called them several derogatory names, and then threatened to kill them. Raj Kumar, the school’s principal, told ICC, "We have been doing social work in this village for the last three years, and have been involved in educational and community development programs. While we were advertising for new students in the village, three Hindutva activists approached us and abused us." The Good Shepherd School is a missionary school with 7 staff members, and teaches 134 students from ages 3 to 6. It includes in its curriculum a Biblical approach to science and ethics. The school filed a complaint with the police, who promised to investigate, but so far nothing has happened. Jeremy Sewall, ICC’s Advocacy Director, said, "This incident illustrates that radical Hindu persecution of Christians in India is a common occurrence. Christian teachers ministering to India’s children risk their lives to bring the Gospel. Please pray for protection over the Good Shepherd School, its teachers, and its students."