The attack and the subsequent death of young church leader Nitish Kumar were confirmed by Barnabas Fund contacts.

The family of Nitish believe that the attack was carried out by radical Hindutva nationalists in reprisal for Nitish’s refusal to stop holding daily prayer meetings in his home. Police, however, have said that the death was a suicide.

As reported in August, the victim’s sister, Raja Davabi, told ICC that the incident occurred at 6:30 am, on the 11th of August, when Nitish left the house to go to market. Almost immediately after leaving, Nitish was carried back into their home by multiple people, screaming, with burns all over his body.

“It was a horrifying scene of my brother,” said Raja, “I started yelling and crying looking at my brother. He was in terrible painat that  point and all that I could do is to share the pain by wrapping him in my hands.”

Source: Barnabas Fund