Christian communities across India are facing escalating persecution from far-right Hindu groups, with five incidents reported in just one week between 13-20 October 2024. Almost all these attacks were on peaceful prayer meetings and religious gatherings across the country and paint a rather bleak picture of plummeting religious freedom in the country.
The United Christian Forum (UCF), an organisation monitoring hate crimes against Christians, reported a sharp rise in violence as per its latest report. In 2023, over 687 incidents were documented, averaging two attacks on Christians per day.
This year, in nine months from January to September, the UCF has documented 585 incidents of persecution against the Christian community. However, first information reports have only been filed in 45 cases, pointing out a huge gap between incidents and action taken. As per the UCF, the first 75 days of 2024 saw 161 incidents, with January alone witnessing 70 reported cases.
The recent spate of attacks follows a familiar pattern: peaceful Christian gatherings are disrupted, unfounded claims of forced religious conversions are made, and local Hindu nationalist groups intervene. In many cases, police either fail to act impartially or actively participate in the harassment.
“Christians in India are facing a coordinated campaign of fear, where even peaceful gatherings are attacked without consequence,” said AC Michael, National Coordinator of UCF while speaking to Christian Today.
On 13 October, in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, police disrupted a Christian prayer meeting following a complaint by Sarvesh Singh, president of the National Gau Raksha Vahini. Singh accused the gathering of engaging in conversions, leading to the arrest of a couple and detention of several attendees.
The same day in Jagatsinghpur, Odisha, members of the Bajrang Dal raided a Christian prayer meeting, threatening extreme violence and even to strip participants. Although the attackers were handed over to the police, such incidents rarely result in strong legal action.
On 17 October, two separate incidents occurred. In Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, a Christian family faced resistance from members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal while attempting to bury a deceased relative. The family was forced to concede to extremist demands and bury the deceased outside the village limits.
In Saharsa, Bihar, VHP activists, accompanied by local police, disrupted a Christian prayer meeting, confiscating religious items including Bibles. A pastor was also detained during the raid.
The week's events concluded on 20 October in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, where police raided a Christian family's home following complaints from local villagers about alleged religious conversions. Three family members were detained based on unverified allegations.
These incidents are not isolated but part of a broader narrative of rising religious intolerance. Far-right Hindu groups, such as the VHP and Bajrang Dal, often accuse Christians of converting Hindus under coercion or deceit, despite little evidence to support these claims.
The complicity of local police and tacit support from political figures associated with right-wing ideologies further aggravate the situation. Anti-conversion laws, present in nearly 12 Indian states, are frequently used as tools to silence and intimidate Christian communities.
Chhattisgarh has emerged as the state with the highest number of reported assaults against Christians, recording 47 incidents in early 2024. Uttar Pradesh follows closely with 36 incidents.
The persecution extends beyond physical attacks. According to the UCF report, burial rights have been denied to Christian families, and fabricated cases have led to the arrest of over 100 Indian Christians. A total of 122 pastors and other Christians have been arrested on charges of religious conversion.
“The true crisis is not just the violence but the failure of the system to protect victims. When aggressors walk free and the innocent are criminalized, it’s not just religious freedom at risk - it’s the integrity of our nation itself,” bemoaned Michael.
