Bangalore, India
The National Council of Churches in India has called on the authorities to act immediately to restore the rule of law, following a number of attacks against Christians.

The council urged state governments to clamp down on what it said were Hindu fundamentalist groups “responsible for fanning communal hatred and social tension.”

The NCCI, which groups 29 Orthodox and Protestant churches, made its call following the beatings in May of two Christian evangelists in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra state, in western India. Television footage showed a group of Hindus kicking and punching the pastors. Eleven people were arrested after the attack.