Christians Injured in Mob Attack

A Hindu conversion ceremony - Photo: Wikipedia / v
An initiation to Hinduism ceremony in progress.
Photo: Wikipedia / Thomas L Kelly (cc)

A Christian advocate has challenged the state government of Chhattisgarh for being directly responsible for the ongoing violence perpetrated against members of the Christian minority. Arun Pannalal, the president of Chhattisgarh's Christian Forum, recounts at least ten reported incidents of Christian persecution in five different locations across the state since early January – and more than 200 incidents during the past two years. "It is a complete failure of the state government," he states.

In an incident that took place on January 9th, a mob attacked members of a house church in Odagoan, causing them serious injuries. According to Pastor Hemanth Kandapan, the violence began when a Hindu nationalist, Sanjith Ng, entered the worship service and began beating those who were present. He then dragged Pastor Hemanth out of the building, where a mob of more than 200 had gathered.

The abuse continued as the mob joined in the attack against the pastor and another believer, Sankar Salam. Both Christian men sustained serious internal injuries and required medical treatment. During the attack, members of the mob accused the believers of illegally converting Hindus to Christianity. The rioting villagers also threatened to kill the Christians if they continued to hold prayer services in the community.

The next day, Hindu nationalist leaders forced the Christians in the village to take part in a Ghar Wapsi program – a ceremony of conversion to Hinduism. The term, which translated means "Coming Home," is based on the belief that all Indians are ancestrally Hindu, and thus they must return to their roots. During the ceremony, one Christian woman was forcibly converted to Hinduism.

Following this incident, five Christian families fled the village. It is not known when they will be able to return to their homes. To learn more about the persecution of Christians in India, go to our country report.

Please remember our Christian family in Chhattisgarh who are experiencing persecution in their communities, including those who have been forced to flee their homes. Specifically pray that as Pastor Hemanth and Sankar recuperate from their injuries, they will experience full recovery of health, as well as emotional healing from the trauma of the attack. Also prayerfully uphold the woman who was forced to participate in the Hindu conversion ceremony, asking God to restore her spiritually. In fact, may He sustain every one of these persecuted followers of Jesus, filling them with a renewed sense of strength, courage and hope. In the midst of the long-standing division and violence occurring across this Indian state, may our brothers and sisters in Christ ultimately overcome, so their lives can serve as powerful testimonies of His love and the resulting blessings of peace and unity.

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."