Indians learn about the existence of "Jews" in Guntur area

When Indian police last month unearthed a plot by the group "Lashkar-e-Tayyeba" to strike against Americans and Jews, some "Jews" in the region of Guntur were startled to find out that anybody had noticed them at all. Until this information leaked from the police files, no-one had an idea that there were Jews in Guntur, not even members of the police. The group of about 30 families from the village of Kothareddypalem in the Guntur district claims to be Jewish, having proclaimed allegiance to the religion under the leadership of a maverick theologian who calls himself Shamuel Yacobi. They follow the traditions and rites as practiced by Jews all over the world, such as observing the Shabbat. The families are convinced, or have been convinced, that their ancestors were born as Jews, but later were converted by missionaries to the Christian faith.