Photo: CSW
Six Christian families from Karingundam, a village located in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh state, were evicted from their homes on April 12th for refusing to renounce their faith in Christ. Opposing villagers loaded their belongings onto a truck – only to be hauled out of the village and dumped. The desolate families were forced to spend the night in the forest without any shelter. At least 25 individuals were affected by this dire situation.
The next day, members of the Central Reserve Police Force attempted to help the believers return to their homes, but other villagers prevented them from entering. Consequently, the Christians had to seek refuge in a local church. On April 14th, police officers again addressed the situation with the opposing villagers, reminding them of the constitutional rights of all citizens and threatening legal action against them if they failed to comply. As a result, the Christian families were finally allowed to return to their homes.
Several similar situations have taken place within the Sukma district over recent months. In another incident, ten Christian families, consisting of about 45 people, were reportedly assaulted and forced from their homes in Durandarbha village on April 24th. The hostile community members who forced the believers' exile from the village then warned of life-threatening consequences if they attempted to return.
These evicted families are presently receiving refuge in a church building located approximately 17 kilometres away from Durandarbha village. After reporting the incident to police, they were advised to stay away from the village for now, in hopes that the matter would eventually settle. Police have also told those who threatened the Christians of potential legal action; however, at last report, no charges have been laid. In the meantime, the displaced villagers are at least receiving a very basic means of shelter in the makeshift church, despite the building's leaky roof.
While no specific cause for this rise in violence is known, there has been increasing political pressure placed on those who allegedly participate in what some militant Hindus refer to as "illegal conversions." For more details on the various forms of persecution being perpetrated against Christians in India, go to our country report.
- Remember these ostracized believers in your prayers, asking God to continue mediating on their behalf as they attempt to live peaceably among opposing fellow villagers.
- For those who are still displaced, please pray that the Lord will give them wisdom and guidance as they seek a permanent place in which they can safely and harmoniously reside, hopefully within the homes of their former communities.
- May villagers who are opposed to Christianity come to understand the unfathomable love of God and the wonderful plan of eternal salvation that He has made available for them through His Son, Jesus Christ.
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