Ganga Digal shows the wounds he sustained in the attack(Photo: (c)Church of North India)“It was 2pm on 25 December; in the middle of the Christmas service we could hear a huge crowd getting closer to the place of worship.
“Before the armed crowd, we were helpless and totally paralysed with fear. The first thing they did was to demolish the temple of our Lord and broke all that they found near their hands.
“They didn’t leave a single church undamaged and before our eyes they brought down one after another and cried with joy for their glorious achievements.
“The whole congregation got scattered and ran to save their lives, some ran towards the nearby forest and we didn’t see them in the village for days.
“26 December was a black day in the history of Barkhamba. As if yesterday’s destruction was not sufficient, the fundamentalists were back once again with more people and arms to destroy our dwelling places that we had built up with years of struggle and hardship.
“Within no time they demolished almost all Christian houses and took away all valuables; all of a sudden we found ourselves under the open sky, roofless, lonely and totally devastated and broken. Our eyes were filled with tears and we couldn’t see our future; for all of us everything was lost.
“In fear I had crossed the main road and entered the nearby forest. Little did I know that greater suffering was waiting for me in the midst of darkness in the forest.
“Unfortunately, I confronted three strong and stout men who began to chase me to take my life. I ran far more than three kilometres till I was totally exhausted, my old age and weak body didn’t let me run any further. So I turned back and knelt before them with folded hands and begged for mercy and kindness. I appealed them to spare my life for my family and children.
“It was the saddest day of my life as I had to fold my hands before my Father’s enemies. They didn’t pay heed to my request but wounded me with an axe till I became unconscious. They left the place thinking that I was dead. …
“The people who made me bleed were my neighbours and friends till yesterday. Now I see them frequently on the roads of Barkhama, but the thought of revenge never comes to my mind.
“Silence is meaningful and valuable and I am sure my silence will teach them the basics of Christianity – love and forgiveness.
“Now I am a silent preacher.”