12 people injured in India after arson attack on church

At least 12 people were seriously injured after a mob of more than 300 set fire to a church and several shops owned by Christians in India's Jammu and Kashmir state last week.

According to the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), the attack took place after rumors emerged that a Christian man named Rinku Kumar had forcibly converted his formerly Hindu wife, Seema Devi, and murdered her.

Devi had reportedly fallen ill two years ago, but she found healing at a church service. When her illness returned, the couple left for Jalandhar so that she could be prayed over at the church where they got married.

However, Devi passed away and Kumar had decided to take her back to Kashmir for burial with Christian rituals.

According to UCA News, Devi's family raised objections about the burial and accused Kumar of murdering his wife after she resisted attempts to convert her to Christianity.

Devi's uncle, Joginder Singh, said that the family did not know that Kumar was a Christian. "We came to know about it last month when she told us over the phone that her husband took her to Christmas prayers at a church in Punjab. He must have coerced her to convert to Christianity," he said.

BPCA reported that members of the Hindu group Bajran Dal heard the allegations against Kumar and they galvanized a mob of more than 300 people who sought revenge for Devi's murder by attacking a church.

The mob reportedly attacked the Christians attending the service at Sehal Christ Church and set the building on fire. The attack had left 12 people injured, including two officers who tried to intervene. Apart from the church, the mob also caused damage to Christian-run businesses in the village. Devi's body was reportedly exhumed and burned as part of a Hindu burial ritual.

A local Christian named William Masih lamented that the assailants will probably not be brought to justice even though the police witnessed the attack.

"I am totally shocked by what happened I saw innocent Christians flee from the church and saw two Christian shops being looted before they were razed to the ground. The violence was unwarranted and has left much fear amongst local Christians, we already feel marginalised," Masih told BPCA.

"Despite Police witnessing the attack we expect little justice and the perpetrators of the violence will probably escape capture by the police," he added.

State legislator Sheikh Abdul Rasheed had demanded the immediate arrest of those suspected of taking part in the attack and said that the incident should serve as a reminder of how minorities in India are being forced to live like second-class citizens.