Tag: India

3 Pastors Killed Returning from Peace Conference

Posted on by Leave a comment
close up image of rifle magazine on ground

Three tribal church pastors from the Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) of India were killed, and four others were injured in an armed ambush on May 13 in Kangpokpi district of Manipur. Roughly 10 armed men used automatic weapons to shoot two vehicles carrying the church leaders as they returned from a peace and reconciliation conference in Churachandpur. The murders triggered a wave of retaliatory abductions and hostage-taking between rival armed groups across several districts, fracturing the already fragile atmosphere. The incident caused immediate panic and deep outrage across tribal communities statewide, sparking spontaneous protests and highway blockades.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) alleged the involvement of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), specifically the Kamson faction, possibly in coordination with valley-based insurgent groups in the ambush and killings. Rev. Dr. Sitlhou was a prominent advocate for peace, having recently led a delegation to Nagaland to broker reconciliation between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities. He was a notable bridge-builder working on dialogues between the two. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has condemned the incident and urged swift justice. Singh condemned the ambush as a “senseless act of violence” and promised full state resources to bring the perpetrators to justice. The chief ministers of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram similarly expressed deep outrage.

Hostages Released Manipur’s conflict landscape involves three major ethnic groups: the Meiteis, the Nagas, and the Kuki-Zo communities. These groups largely live in separate geographical belts and pockets where each forms a local majority. The killing occurred amid persistent tensions between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities following the ethnic violence that broke out on May 3, 2023. “What began over issues of Scheduled Tribe status, land rights, forest governance, and demographic concerns has now expanded into a dangerous triangular confrontation involving Meiteis, Kuki-Zo, and Nagas,” John Dayal, a noted human rights activist, stated in media reports.

Following the pastors’ deaths, heavily armed factions — largely aligned with Kuki-Zo and Naga groups — began detaining civilians from opposing tribal factions in the Kangpokpi and Senapati districts. State officials reported that as many as 38 civilians, including women and other religious figures, were taken hostage by rival militias in retaliation and moved to undisclosed locations. The crisis sparked widespread fears of civil war. To prevent further deterioration, Manipur government officials, security forces, and church leaders initiated emergency negotiations.

Source: 3 Pastors Killed Returning from Peace Conference – International Christian Concern

The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
Proverbs 11:25

Finding Truth and Life in Jesus

In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you tries to…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Recent News on Christian Persecution (March 11 – March 18, 2026)

Posted on by Leave a comment
news

Advocacy groups including International Christian Concern (ICC), Open Doors, and Persecution Relief released multiple reports this week documenting fresh incidents of violence, arrests, and systemic discrimination. The global picture remains unchanged: roughly 388 million Christians (about 1 in 7 worldwide) continue to face high or extreme levels of persecution according to the 2026 World Watch List.

1. India – Mob Assault on 28 Christian Families in Chhattisgarh

  • On March 10 (reported March 16), a mob in Millampalli village, Sukma district, attacked 28 Christian families with wooden rods and sticks. The families had been denied government food rations since November 2025 solely because of their faith; when they complained, a local food inspector allegedly incited the violence and issued threats. Police complaints were filed, but witnesses claim authorities showed bias or inaction.

2. Nigeria – Fulani Militia Attacks Continue in Plateau State

  • A March 17 ICC report highlighted ongoing raids by Fulani militants and bandits on Christian farming communities in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos areas. Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo of the Church of Christ in Nations publicly stated that repeated appeals for protection, including direct outreach to the U.S. administration, have gone unanswered, leaving Middle Belt Christians exposed despite broader U.S. military operations elsewhere in the country. Churches and homes remain primary targets.

3. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – Weekly ADF/ISIS-Linked Violence

  • ICC’s March 13 briefing detailed near-weekly attacks by the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces in eastern provinces. Christians are being murdered, abducted, and displaced, with churches deliberately destroyed as militants seek to impose stricter Islamic rule. The situation has worsened in recent months, with hundreds killed or kidnapped in targeted Christian villages.

4. Cuba – Pastor Arrested for Posting Bible Teaching Online

  • On March 15, Pastor Rolando Pérez Lora was arrested after uploading a simple Bible teaching video to YouTube. The arrest drew international attention March 16–18, underscoring growing restrictions on online Christian expression in Cuba. Local believers and advocacy groups are calling for his immediate release.

5. Iran & China – Heightened Pressure Amid Conflict and Surveillance

  • Open Doors issued updated “Dispatches from Iran” (March 17) noting that at least 48 Christians remain imprisoned amid regional chaos, communication blackouts, and economic hardship affecting underground churches. In China, ICC’s new feature “Persecution Has No Borders” detailed intensified domestic surveillance plus overseas harassment of Chinese Christians abroad through “police stations” and digital monitoring.

6. China – “Persecution Has No Borders”

  • ICC’s March 17 feature emphasized the Chinese Communist Party’s expanding reach: intensified surveillance, church demolitions, and “Sinicization” campaigns inside China, alongside overseas “police stations” harassing Chinese Christians abroad. Long-term prisoners and families of detainees continue to suffer, with authorities tightening controls on online Bible studies and house churches.

7. Iran – Christians Endure War Chaos and Imprisonment

  • Open Doors issued a March 17 dispatch on the situation inside Iran amid regional conflict. At least 48 Christians remain imprisoned, many in the overcrowded and chaotic Evin Prison, while others are missing. Communication blackouts, economic collapse, and forced conscription have hit underground churches particularly hard. Believers have been actively supporting displaced families, demonstrating remarkable resilience despite the risks of arrest for “apostasy” or “propaganda against the regime.”

8. Broader Regional Warnings

  • Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reiterated that escalating violence in the Middle East threatens the very survival of ancient Christian communities. The Vatican and UN statements this week again described anti-Christian persecution as the most widespread form of religious oppression globally.
  • The Vatican and several UN statements this week reiterated warnings about the scale of anti-Christian violence, especially in conflict zones. European commentators also discussed “polite persecution” , subtle legal and cultural pressures in Western societies, alongside the more violent incidents in the Global South. No major new policy shifts were announced, but advocacy groups continue pressing Western governments for stronger diplomatic action.

These reports emphasize both sudden violence and long-term systemic pressures. Relief organizations are actively providing emergency aid, legal assistance, and documentation. For ongoing monitoring, the primary sources remain ICC (persecution.org), Open Doors, and ACN.

Source: Grok on X

The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
Job 37:23

Minor earthquake reported in southeast Ohio

A minor earthquake was logged in southeast Ohio on Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  The USGS said that around 4:06 a.m., a 2.2-magnitude quake struck around seven kilometers north of New Marshfield in Athens County, which is around 10 miles from Ohio University.  There is little information about the quake, but the…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

Bear encounters are on the rise. Here’s what to do if you meet one

A drought in the western U.S. has devastated wildlands, dried up food sources and sent bears wandering along city sidewalks and into homes and shops in search of food. What should you do if you meet a bear? Reuters ​turned to BearWise, opens new tab, which bear biologists started in the southeastern United States in…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

Rabid baby goats prompt North Carolina mobile petting zoo scare

At least three baby goats belonging to a North Carolina petting zoo have tested positive for rabies, prompting state health officials to issue an urgent warning to those who visited the operation’s mobile menagerie since late July. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) said Sunday that tests Friday confirmed that the…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

12-foot Mississippi River gator caught — now, who wants to go swimming?

Alligator hunting season is off to a massive start in Mississippi — and this catch is enough to make you think twice before jumping into the Mississippi River. According to the Vicksburg Daily News, Jonathan Wimberley and his friends had an impressive first night of hunting, catching a 12-foot, 4-inch alligator in the Mississippi River.…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

Mudslide blocks road along Colorado River in Eagle County

Crews are working to clear a large mudslide that brought boulders and debris down on a road in Eagle County, Colorado. On Saturday afternoon, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office said the area near Sweetwater Road and Colorado River Road is closed due to the slide. Photos shared by the sheriff’s office show a significant amount…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

Subscribe

Enter your email below to receive updates.