Christian portals reported that “pastor who was against Hindu nationalists” was killed by “masked men”. The pastor was dragged out of his home and stabbed to death by Maoists in Chhattisgarh. The terror organisation suspected him of being a police informer.
Yallam Shankar, a resident of Angampalliguda village in Bastar district was found dead on the intervening night between March 17 and 18. He was dragged out of his house and attacked with sharp edged weapons, the police said. A pamphlet was recovered from the spot in which Maded area Committee of CPI (Maoist) claimed responsibility for the murder. In the pamphlet Maoists had accused the man of being a police informant
Yellam Shankar was the senior pastor of BCM (Bastar for Christ Movement) Church in Angampalli, Bastar and a former sarpanch of the village. While he was killed by Maoists, Christian portals wrote the news saying, “pastor known for defending Christians against Hindu Nationalists killed by masked men”. The reports implied that Hindus killed the pastor while the truth is that it was Maoists backed by Christian backed NGOs who killed him.
International Christian Concern’s perscution.org reported it as, “five masked men broke into the pastor’s house, dragged him out, and stabbed him to death”. It quoted a Christian in the village as saying, “the Christians in this area have been facing intense opposition from the radical Hindu nationalists. Several times Pastor Shankar defended Christians from radical Hindu nationalists, and that could be the reason for this extreme form of persecution of killing.”
Claiming that Christians in Chhattisgarh have been facing persecution, persecution.org said that local Christians claim “radical Hindu nationalists threatened to kill the pastor if he continues to preach”. It didn’t mention anywhere that he was killed by Maoists.
The Christian Broadcasting Network’s title read “Beloved Pastor Killed in Central India by Masked Men, Known for Defending Christians Against Hindu Nationalists”. It also parroted a similar version of Hindus threatening the pastor.
Another portal The Christian Post, with a title “Christian pastor dragged out of his home, stabbed to death by 5 masked men”, also claimed the same thing. It quoted Progressive Christian Alliance of Chhattisgarh as saying “anyone can use the name of a Maoist group to mislead the investigation”. It cast aspersions on the police claiming that even though police are blaming it on “extreme communists” local Christians suspect he was murdered by “Hindu nationalists”.
