A tribal Christian family with four school-aged children has reportedly fled to a forest in Chhattisgarh after receiving threats from villagers over their Christian faith.
The family, from Todohur village in Narayanpur district, left their home on 28 June after allegedly being warned to leave or face violence. According to the family's head, Ray Singh Karanga, they fled to protect themselves and have since been sheltering in the forest.
Karanga said the family has been told they can only return if they publicly renounce Christianity. He said they have no intention of doing so and are now uncertain about where to go or how to care for their children, who are enrolled in local schools.
The family explained that they left so quickly they were unable to collect school books, uniforms or other belongings. One of Karanga's daughters, who is in Year 10, said the disruption means the children are now missing classes at the start of the school term.
Karanga also said the family had not formally converted to Christianity but had been excluded by villagers because of their Christian beliefs and practices. They are planning to report the incident to the police.
According to reports, the family received their first meal after leaving home when a friend brought food to them in the forest.
The incident is one of several recent cases involving Christians in Narayanpur district. Local Christian residents say increasing numbers of tribal Christian families have faced pressure to abandon their faith and return to traditional tribal religious practices or leave their villages.
Guddu Ram Kumeti, a Christian resident of Bharanda village, said 13 Christians from another nearby village were reportedly driven out on 27 June after refusing to give up their faith. He added that the affected families later moved to Narayanpur town after receiving little support from local authorities.
Kumeti also said his own family is among 26 Christian families who have received warnings to renounce Christianity or face permanent eviction. According to him, more than 100 people, including women and children, were forced from their homes on 23 June before police and district officials intervened and escorted them back to the village.
Despite reporting the incidents to police, Kumeti claimed no action has been taken against those accused of making threats. He said many of the affected families have lived in their villages for generations and depend on their homes, farmland and livestock for their livelihoods.
Local lawyer and political leader Phool Singh Kachlam called on the authorities to safeguard the rights of tribal and Dalit Christians. He said India's Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and urged officials to protect vulnerable families rather than allowing them to be displaced.
The latest reports come amid ongoing concerns over the treatment of Christians in Chhattisgarh. Following large-scale anti-Christian violence in Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts in 2022, Christian communities have continued to report incidents including social boycotts, restrictions on access to public facilities and difficulties burying relatives in village cemeteries. Some local communities have reportedly justified such actions by claiming that the presence of Christians brings misfortune or offends traditional tribal deities.
Adapted and rewritten from reporting by UCA News.
