Lalu Nagar, India – Six-year-old Santhusti Bee, daughter of Pastor Ramshish Manjhi (35) and Mrs. Sabitha Devi (30), was brutally assaulted on January 10, 2025, in a horrific crime that has left her family and community in deep distress. The couple, who also have a two-year-old son, run a small house church with 30 worshippers and sustain their livelihood as daily wage labourers in agricultural fields.

A Heinous Crime Ignored by Authorities

While playing in the village streets, Santhusti was lured away with chocolate by Vivek (35), a wealthy upper-caste man from the nearby village of Vidhyadhar Pur. He took her to a nearby farm, where he brutally assaulted her at 3:30 PM.

Shortly after the attack, the traumatized and bleeding child was found crying in the streets. Villagers immediately alerted her parents, who rushed her to Seethamandi Government Hospital for urgent medical care. A police complaint was filed, and Vivek was reportedly arrested and placed in custody at Seethamandi Police Station.

However, despite the severity of the crime, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered. It is widely suspected that Vivek’s upper-caste status and wealth are being used to suppress the case. While police insist that he is in jail, his actual whereabouts remain unknown, and no court hearing has taken place.

Family Struggles for Justice

Dr. Vuchula Satyanandam, through Churches Reconstruction Revival and Development, has provided ₹12,000 (£107) to support Santhusti’s medical treatment, food, and clothing. However, the family remains financially unable to fight the legal battle ahead.

Earning only ₹500 (£4.47) per day through agricultural labor, Pastor Manjhi and his wife cannot afford the ₹50,000 (£447) legal fees required to hire a solicitor. They have turned to the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) for help, seeking assistance in covering these costs.

How You Can Help

To support Santhusti’s fight for justice, BACA has launched an appeal to raise funds for legal representation. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a difference in ensuring that this young girl and her family receive the justice they deserve.

Santhusti’s family is not only battling the trauma of the attack but also the systemic discrimination and injustice that often leaves victims from marginalized communities without legal recourse. As they struggle against a biased system, the need for public support has never been greater.

We stand with Santhusti Bee and her family in their pursuit of justice. Will you?

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, said:

“Santhusti’s suffering is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers faced by vulnerable Christian families in India. While we are relieved that she is recovering, justice must prevail. No child should endure such horror, and no family should have to fight alone against a system that protects the powerful. We urge authorities to take decisive action and ensure that Santhusti’s attacker is held accountable.”