The Parimala Beautiful Church, the lone Christian church in Tadur village in Mahabubnagar district in Telangana state in southern India, was burned last January 16 by as yet unidentified assailants.  The attack occurred after an evening prayer meeting attended by local churchgoers. The attack was reported to the police by a local bus driver passing by the area after he noticed a trail of visible smoke and flame emanating from the church.

Local church members, the police, and firefighters all raced to the scene of the attack to put out the fires, but more than half the building was already burned to ashes by the time they arrived. The fire destroyed the furnishings and literature inside the church, including numerous Bibles and song books.

The local police are currently investigating the incident. To date, they have not released any new information regarding a possible motive behind the attack or any suspected perpetrators.

Pastor Srinivas, a representative of the Parimala Church, as reported in an article from the International Christian Concern (ICC), described previous happenings that may be connected to the recent arson attack. "Prior to this incident, on number of occasions, right-wing activists have threatened me and warned me not to continue the church in this village. The Hindu radicals have snatched the Gospel literature from me and destroyed them a number of times in the past," he reported.

The Mahabubnagar district has been a hotspot for anti-Christian attacks in recent years. Numerous Christians living in the area have been physically assaulted and pastors from the nearby churches have been falsely charged, according to reports.

Rev. Ronald John, State Chairman of the Telangana Christian Joint-Action-Committee, lamented the current state of affairs. "The attacks have increased since the BJP formed the government at the center last year. Christians here are living as second class citizens," he said.