Christian leaders in Chhattisgarh are urging the administration to ensure safety during Christmas and New Year celebrations, saying the community is facing growing intimidation and violence.
The state has long been a flashpoint for anti-Christian sentiment, where Hindu nationalist groups frequently campaign against churches, pastors, and missionary work. According to data from the United Christian Forum, Chhattisgarh recorded 165 incidents targeting Christians in 2024, the second-highest figure in the country.
Kamal Kujur, president of the Rashtriya Christian Morcha, said his group met the Jashpur district magistrate on December 8 to seek police protection for churches and Christian families during the festive season. “We’re planning to meet officials in every district to make sure Christmas passes peacefully,” he told UCA News on December 9.
He added that the community is on edge, noting that attacks have steadily increased in recent years.
A pastor who asked not to be named described a pattern of harassment: “Groups barge into our house churches during or after Sunday worship. They shout abuses and beat people, and when we try to file complaints, the police rarely take them.”
Instead, clergy say officers often accept accusations from Hindu activists who claim Christians are attempting forced conversions.
In one high-profile case in July, two Catholic nuns and three tribal Christian women were detained at a railway station after activists accused them of trafficking and conversion. They spent nine days in custody before securing bail on August 2, though the case is still ongoing.
Pressure has also increased on independent churches. In August, hundreds of Pentecostal congregations stopped Sunday services after police told them to seek prior permission from district authorities. In Raipur, officers met roughly 100 Pentecostal pastors and asked them to suspend gatherings “to maintain law and order,” said Arun Pannalal, head of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum.
Fears escalated further in November, when the Chhattisgarh High Court dismissed pleas challenging village signboards that barred “converted Christians” and pastors from entering. The court said the notices were meant to safeguard tribal culture. Christian leaders argue the judgment has emboldened groups that already target them.
“Attacks on Christians have increased dramatically,” said activist Sunil Minj from Raipur. “People are feeling more exposed than ever.”
Adapted from UCA News.
