Seven-Year-Old Indian Boy Brutally Tortured, Murdered for Christian Faith

By Luke Leung
Boy Murdered in India
A photo of Anmol taken a couple years ago. GFA

A body of a seven-year-old boy in India was retrieved from a pond last week, revealing horrific details of torture; past threats and persecutions of the family for their Christian faith indicate that the boy was targeted.

According to a statement released by Gospel For Asia, Anmol was reported missing after attending Sunday School at a Believers Church on Nov. 17 in northern India. His parents filed a missing persons report with local authorities. His body was found the following day, and his parents identified their child's body at the hospital.

"The unprecedented torture and death of this innocent child sadden our hearts incredibly," said Dr. K.P. Yohanna, Gospel for Asia founder and international director, according to a statement released by GFA. "Persecution of Christians is a weekly occurrence, but this intensity of brutality against a child is unthinkable. In this horrible tragedy, we find strength and hope in Jesus."

The boy's face was burned, his hands were slashed and destroyed by fire, and his mouth was tied up. Hot fragments of coal or firewood had been placed on his stomach, burning his abdomen, and his toes were broken.

Autopsy reports came back indicating Anmol's final cause of death was drowning.

Over 200 people attended the funeral. "The wail of the people and the parents was heartbreaking," said an Indian official, the GFA reported. "It was truly a painful and intolerable incident. The kidnapers had tortured the child in such an inhuman way. It was very clear that he was brutally killed."

While no details of the murder has been identified, the authorities are investigating the tragedy. The family's persecution has began since 2003 when the boy's father, Harish, converted to Christianity after witnessing a miraculous healing of his brother.

His conversion happened when at least 45 others also decided to follow Jesus, which sparked an ongoing persecution in the community.

While GFA did not report on who the persecutors were, the Christian ministry called for believers to pray for the consolation of the Anmol's parents, brother and sister, grieving extended family members, and that the persecutors would come to know the love of Christ, and for the protection of all believers.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories