A 27-year-old Christian convert has been murdered in India. Kande Mudu (Philip), who became a follower of Jesus four years ago, was killed in Bari village, Khunti District, Jharkhand on 7 June.
According to reports, Mudu's family were the only Christians in the village, and faced constant harassment and death threats simply because of their faith. Mrs Bindu Mudu and the couple’s two daughters have been forced to flee the town in the wake of Kande's death.
The murder occurred at around 8pm on 7 June when a group of armed men showed up at the family's home and demanded that Kande come outside. The men then broke down the door and dragged the man out of his home, before brutally attacking him and slashing his throat.
Mrs Mudu told Christian Solidarity Worldwide that after hearing the men at the front door, her husband "knew that their lives were in danger and that the men had bad intentions." Kande then reportedly told his wife that "he might be killed but assured her to remain strong and to never give up her faith in Jesus even if they killed him."
Following the killing, Mrs Mudu said that her father advised her to renounce her faith so that she might no longer be a target for local vigilante groups. Bindu's mother had been gang-raped in a vicious 2018 attack on the family, and her Dad worried for his daughter's safety. However, undeterred by the threats and the loss of her own husband, Mudu simply responded: “I will live for Jesus and die for Jesus, but I will never turn back.”
A First Information Report (FIR), which is required for the police to begin an investigation, has been registered in the murder of Mr Mudu. No suspects have yet been arrested, and Mrs Mudu and her two children are taking refuge at an undisclosed location.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: “Our deepest prayers and condolences go out to Mr Mudu’s wife, Bindu and his family for the loss of a husband, father and son. Mr Mudu was murdered on account of his faith. We at CSW are increasingly concerned by the relentless harassment, discrimination and suffering that Christians in India face, simply for exercising their right to practise a religion that is different from the majority of their fellow citizens. India’s constitution clearly states that “all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion." The culture of hatred towards religious minorities and the impunity which surrounds attacks against them is rampantly spreading across India.
"This must be addressed urgently and we urge the authorities in Jharkhand and the central government to develop a plan of action. Christians and other religious minorities must feel safe and be able to live in their homes and have livelihoods as equal citizens without fear of violence or harassment from any segment of the community.”