Lakshmipuram, India - A mob of 50 "Hindu radicals" today ransacked an Assembly of God church building in India desecrating the Bible, sources on the ground report.
According to Voice of the Martyrs, which monitors Christian persecution worldwide, the attack occurred at 12:15 p.m. local time in Lakshmipuram, Ulsoor, Bangalore, India.
A VOM source says he has contacted state and federal government authorities, hoping they will extend better protection to the Christian churches and pastors in the area.
"We are alarmed by the daylight attack of the AG church by RSS (Hindu radicals) in the city limits of Bangalore," said a statement from the Global Council of Indian Christians.
"We are shocked the way the Hindu radicals destroyed the worship center without any fear of the law of the land."
The attack comes on the first day of a weeklong Christian festival scheduled for Bangalore that attracts thousands of believers from other communities, and the Global Council of Indian Christians fears the assault was meant to stir up tensions in the city during the event.
The group says the church's leader, "Pastor Benny," had contacted law enforcement and political officials after being threatened but that no police protection was provided.
"The Christian community continue to face violent attacks at regular intervals, and we believe that we are treated like second-class citizens," the statement from the Global Council of Indian Christians said.