Christians Attacked by Militants, Accused of Forcible Conversion

The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of continuing violence against Christians in India this week.

On May 21, a pastor and a church elder in the town of Bangarpet, Karnataka were beaten by members of the militant Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for distributing gifts at a vacation Bible school. According to a May 25 report from the All India Christian Council, the militants accused the Christians of using the gifts to convert children to Christianity. Both men were arrested by the police and later released.

On May 23, two evangelists, Bernard Christopher and Ravinder Gautam, were beaten, tortured and tonsured by approximately forty-two Hindu militants in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The militants also forcibly "reconverted" the Christians to Hinduism and threatened to kill them if they did not flee the district.

Also on May 23, seven evangelists were arrested in the village of Sira Taluk, Andhra Pradesh after local Hindu militants accused them of forcibly converting local Dalits to Christianity. They were interrogated and released with a warning.

On May 25, evangelists J. Tumada and R. Dilat were stripped, beaten and accused of forcible conversion by approximately twenty Hindu militants while returning home from a prayer meeting in the village of Sakwar, Maharashtra. Later that evening, four of the militants also stripped and beat two other believers while they were returning home from a prayer meeting in the village of Bhui Gaon and accused them of also forcibly converting villagers.

Ask God to give strength and healing to these Christians. Pray that they will continue to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Pray that their persecutors will see that their message is one of a free gift, not coercion, and respond in faith to Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

For more information on persecution in India, click here. Videos of interviews and recent attacks on Christians in India are available online at www.vomcanada.com.

India Information

  • Current Ministry Projects

    VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”

    Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defense, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry, Medical Fund

  • Country Information

    Population
    1,399,179,585 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)

    Religion (%)
    Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

    Leader
    President Droupadi Murmu (2022)

    Government type
    Federal parliamentary republic

    Legal system
    Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for India

    Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.

India News

  • Supreme Court to Review Anti-Conversion Laws
    The India Supreme Court building is surrounded by trees.
    The Supreme Court of India.
    Photo: Wikimedia / Subhashish Panigrahi (cc)

    The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a series of petitions challenging the constitutionality of anti-conversion laws enacted by several of the country's states. On September 16th, the court issued notices to the respective state governments, requesting their formal responses within four weeks. The case is scheduled to be heard in six weeks, and the judges have indicated that they may consider ordering the states to pause the enforcement of their existing laws until a decision is made.

  • New Policies Further Restrict Religious Freedom
    A brightly lit church building is filled with people.
    A church in India.
    Photo: Flickr / Ashish Kumar Milap (cc)

    Recent developments in two Indian states have raised serious concerns for Christians, particularly in relation to the newly heightened restrictions on religious conversions. In the first incident, police in Chhattisgarh notified more than 200 house churches around the state capital city of Raipur that worship gatherings within private homes are no longer permitted.

  • Pastors Arrested and Assaulted
    A crowd is gathered around a church building.
    A screenshot of people disrupting the service in Bhilai.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    On July 20th, six pastors were arrested after a mob disrupted a church service in Bhilai, a city located within the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The assailants chanted Hindu slogans and accused the pastors of engaging in forcible conversions. As the mob grew increasingly vocal, shouting obscenities and threatening violence, Pastor Baksh locked the church doors to protect his congregation members.