Religious violence reaches India’s capital as a Hindu mob swarms a church

A church in India’s capital region is trying to recover after an attack last month by a Hindu nationalist mob.

NEW DELHI — Abhishek Donald was at church last month, playing the drums as usual, when he and fellow parishioners were attacked by a right-wing Hindu mob.

During the assault, a man wielding an iron rod broke the knuckles on Abhishek’s right hand and struck him on the back at least twice, turning his skin blue. His pinkie remains twisted, rendering him unable to play the drums properly.

That hasn’t stopped Abhishek, 16, from going back to church.

He was one of the few people at the Prarthana Bhawan Church in India’s capital region on Sunday, two weeks after the mob barged in.

The group of about 30 people attacked dozens of churchgoers, including women and children, the church's pastor, Satpal Bhati, said. The Aug. 20 assault on the Protestant church in northeastern Delhi took place less than 10 miles from where world leaders including President Joe Biden will meet this week for the annual summit of the Group of 20 economies.