As COVID-19 restrictions have started to lift in India, there has been a sudden increase in attacks against Christians.

Eight attacks in two weeks involving radical Hindu nationalist groups have left Christians in India physically beaten and have destroyed and damaged their property, CBN News reports.

The International Christian Concern (ICC) recorded the attacks, the most recent of which took place while a pastor prayed for a sick villager on June 21.

While in the village of Kolonguda, a mob broke into Pastor Suresh Rao's home. The 150 people dragged Rao into the street and beat him severely.

The pastor has been accused of trying to convert Hindu believers to Christianity.

"They kicked me like they would kick a football," Rao says.

"They dragged me into the street and pushed me to the ground. There, they started to trample on me. They tore my clothes, kicked me all over my body, and punched my left eye."

The pastor says he sustained a serious eye injury due to a blood clot from the beating.

"They said India is a Hindu nation and there is no place for Christians," Rao says.

This is the cost of serving Jesus in remote Indian Villages, Rao continues. But the incident has not deterred the pastor, who says he was prepared for this to happen.

"I will continue to serve the people of this region," Rao says.

A few weeks prior to Rao's attack, Real Peace Church in India's Tamil Nadu state was attacked by Hindu nationalists and burned.

Everything in the church was destroyed and the building was reduced to a blackened shell.

Pastor Ramesh Jebaraj says he has already forgiven those responsible for the arson.

Pastor Augustine said radicals were telling Christians that praying or gathering at church was forbidden and that Christians had caused the virus to spread. 

"We don't know what future holds," Pastor Augustine said. "However, we are concerned that the radicals will not allow us to have a church service."

Indian Christians fear the persecution will continue as more people begin to emerge from the COVID-19 lockdown.