More than a month after coordinated attacks disrupted Easter services, several churches in Gujarat remain closed due to continued intimidation and lack of police action, according to local sources.
On Easter Sunday, April 20, members of Hindu nationalist groups, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, stormed into the Western India Pentecostal Church in Ahmedabad. Armed with wooden sticks and chanting Hindu slogans, approximately 25 individuals interrupted the service attended by about 125 congregants. They accused Pastor Dinesh Parmar of conducting forced conversions, demanded identification from attendees, and vandalised the church property.
"They knew Easter is a big day for us; our churches have maximum attendance, so they intentionally chose Easter Day to disrupt our special services," said Pastor Parmar, who also serves as the Gujarat President of the All India Christian Federation.
In a separate incident on the same day, Pastor Ganesh Vijay Koli and Assistant Pastor Benjamin Gamit were assaulted in Surat. The attackers, also affiliated with Hindu nationalist groups, accused them of illegal religious conversions and physically attacked them during their Easter service.
Despite filing complaints, the affected churches have seen little to no response from local authorities. Landlords, under pressure from these groups, have refused to allow the congregations to use the premises, effectively shutting down their places of worship.
"The police have not taken any action against the culprits, and we are left without a place to worship," said Pastor Parmar.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern of increasing hostility towards Christians in India. According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India, there were 640 reported cases of violence and discrimination against Christians in 2024, marking a significant rise from previous years.
Religious freedom advocates have expressed concern over the growing impunity with which such attacks are carried out. "All Indians must be able to practice their faith without violence and intimidation," said Rev. Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India. "We urge all state governments to enforce the rule of law and bring offenders of religious violence to justice."
As the affected congregations in Gujarat await justice and the reopening of their churches, the incidents underscore the challenges faced by religious minorities in India and the urgent need for protective measures to ensure their right to worship freely.
