JHARKHAND, INDIA (ANS) -- Roshan Kuma, a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary in Jharkhand, India, was arrested March 8 and accused of being connected with the Maoist anti-government group in his home state.

In some parts of South Asia, the Maoists are a popular political party, but in India, the Maoists, who are also called Naxalites, are known insurgents who terrorize the people. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls them the “single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country.”

Roshan was arrested during a recent police sweep of his village. He is not accused of being a Maoist, but simply being linked to them somehow.

He serves as pastor of a church with more than 100 believers. Roshan is a popular and dynamic pastor. Some in the village say it was the anti-Christian extremists who made the accusations which led to the missionary’s arrest.

Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries in this area shared the following requests:

• Pray for our missionary to be released from police custody with no charges filed against him.

• Pray for the safety of all the missionaries and believers who work in this area.

• Ask the Lord to change the hearts of the Maoists so that they would choose to follow Christ.