His mobile phone and bicycle were seized (although his bicycle was restored to him afterwards). The aggressors seemed to show some skill in their attack, critically injuring Santu but leaving few visible bruises. The local villagers thought him to be dead when they found him unconscious near a wooded area. His two supervisors rushed him to Barisal Medical College Hospital, where he remained unconscious for two days.

Santu Adhikary was a former member of the Brahmin caste at Dhamshar of Barisal, a southern district. Many local Brahmins were against his Christian conversion. The CLB director said, “The attack was motivated by religious reasons and the Brahmin Hindus encouraged the local terrorist group to attack Santu.”

Santu is known for his boldness in carrying out his tasks as a CLB worker in Patuakhali, including doing follow up work with Jesus film viewers. Months before the attack, Santu received threats and the CLB head office considered transferring him to another area.

Many of the CLB staff thought that Santu would not walk out of the hospital alive. Much to their surprise, he regained his consciousness after two days and was released from the hospital. Doctors recommended that Santu take one month of rest without any work.

Two other CLB workers, Tapan Kumar Roy and Liplal Mardi, were murdered in Faridpur district on July 27, 2005, after receiving threats from Islamic extremists for showing the Jesus film.

Source: Open Door.