Source: www.persecution.org
Date: June 8, 2020
India (International Christian Concern) – According to local reports, Sombura Madkami, a 14-year-old Christian boy from Kenduguda village, located in the in Malkangiri district of India’s Odisha state, was brutally murdered by religious extremists. Christian leaders claim Sombura was murdered by religious extremists who had been harassing Christians in Kenduguda village for years.
“On the night of June 4, a few villagers ganged up with a handful of religious fanatics, who were not part of the village, and attempted to kidnap Christians,” Pastor Kosha Mosaki told the media. The extremists captured Sombura and the two other Christians. However, the two other Christians were able to escape their captors before they were taken to the jungle.
In the jungle, the extremists brutally murdered Sombura. The extremists then buried Sombura’s body in an attempt to hide the crime.
However, the two other Christians who had escaped notified local police. Police immediately identified Deba Madkami, Budra Muchaki, Aaita Kabasi, Rabu Madi, and others as being involved in the abduction and murder of the Christian boy. Police also located the body of Sombura as a part of their initial investigation after arresting and interrogating the individuals that were identified.
Police from the Malkangiri district have filed First Information Report (FIR No. 0180/20) against the individuals accused of murdering Sombura.
According to local Christians, religious extremists had been harassing their community for several years prior to the murder. Pastor Bijay Pusuru, from Bethel House Church located in Kenduguda, claims extremists had restricted church activities and issued death threats against Christian families who continued to attend church. Pastor Pusura claims police and village leaders did little in response to these incidents.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for peace and comfort for this boy’s loved ones. Pray for the authorities to hold his murderers accountable. Pray for anti-Christian violence in India to end.