Church Members Brutally Assaulted by Radicals

A village in India.

Christians in a village of India's Chhattisgarh state have reportedly been brutally assaulted by Hindu radicals following the passing of a resolution banning all non-Hindu religious activities in the village.

The incident took place in Karmeri village on September 8th. According to local sources, a mob of over 50 Hindu radicals gathered and surrounded the premises of a church at around 4 p.m. Before any of the believers could ask what was happening, the radicals attacked, assaulting them with wooden clubs and sticks.

When some of the targeted women confronted the radicals, they were brutally beaten with wooden clubs and fists. Two of the Christian women, Pulo Bhai, 40, and Ludri, 35, were seriously injured in the assault and, as a result, had collapsed to an unconscious state.

Tensions between Karmeri's Christian and Hindu communities mounted when construction of a church began in the village. Once news of the church building spread, Suresh Yadav, the district president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (a Hindu nationalist organization), convened a village meeting. As a result of the meeting, a resolution was passed banning all non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers and speeches throughout the entire village. This resolution is similar to ones passed in 50 other villages within the state -- all intended to effectively make Christianity illegal.

Other reports on the challenges facing Christians in the country of India can be reviewed at our India Country Report.

Ask the Lord to minister His healing power upon each of the women who were beaten, including Pulo Bhai and Ludri, fully restoring them to good health. May the local believers of these villages be granted His favour and abundant provision for all their day-to-day needs. Pray that they will also be greatly encouraged and strengthened -- having an increased resolve to not give up their faith nor refrain from meeting together for worship. Additionally, pray that the witness of these Christians will be faithful, forgiving and filled with love for their persecutors so their example may be used by the Lord to bring many Hindus to salvation.

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.

  • Severe Restrictions Accompany Anti-Conversion Legislation
    A church congregation is gathered during a service.
    A church in India.
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    In early July, the Maharashtra state government announced plans to introduce stringent anti-conversion legislation. The new laws, which are expected to be the most severe of their kind in the country, are particularly aimed at preventing religious conversions within tribal communities. While the stated intent is to prevent incidents of coercion, legislators have used language demonstrating a broader aim to restrict religious conversions of any sort. During the announcement, the state's revenue minister, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, declared that the law would be so strict "no one will dare to undertake religious conversion."