PAKISTAN: CHRISTIAN CONVERT MURDERED BECAUSE HE CONVERTED

Christian convert from Islam shot dead in Kashmir
Bashir Ahmed Tantray, a native of the state, was shot in the head in his village of Mamoosa


Suspected Islamic militants shot dead Nov. 21 a 50-year-old Christian convert from Islam who was helping with evangelical mission work in the Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state (for related see: Christian convert killed by Islamic militants)

Bashir Ahmed Tantray, a native of the state, was shot in the head in his village of Mamoosa, Catholic and other missioners confirmed to UCA News. The village is near Baramulla, 590 kilometers north of New Delhi.

Father Mathew Kuzhikattil of Holy Family Church in Srinagar, told UCA News that the Christian community in the state is shocked and saddened, "because one of our Christian brethren was killed."

The Catholic priest declined to speculate on the motive. "We do not know whether it was a militant attack or something else," he said.

However, Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) officials in New Delhi blamed the attack on militants.

"According to our sources, he was killed by Islamic militants," Reverend Richard Howell, EFI secretary general, told UCA News on Nov. 22. He added that only a few Christians attended the funeral, held later on the day of the killing, with others keeping away in fear of further attacks.

The Indian Express daily newspaper reported that Tantray's relatives followed Muslim funeral rites and buried him in a Muslim graveyard in his village, fearing reprisals from villagers. In an extensive report on the killing, it said the murdered man is survived by his wife and four children.

Reverend Howell said Tantray was a government employee whose "Christian identity was well known in the area, and his name had been featured in numerous media reports in the region."
"The killing has caused widespread fear in the state. We mourn the death of Tantray and request prayers for the family in their time of grief," the Church official added.

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1) Christian convert from Islam shot dead in Kashmir