The Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFIRLC) released a report Tuesday documenting 334 incidents of targeting against Christian communities across India between January and July 2025.
The report, spanning 22 states and union territories, shows incidents occurred consistently every month during the seven-month period. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number with 95 incidents, followed by Chhattisgarh with 86 incidents.
According to EFIRLC’s findings, threats and harassment comprised 107 incidents, while false accusations and arrests accounted for 116 cases. The documentation also recorded 42 instances of physical violence and 29 cases where worship services were disrupted, often during Sunday gatherings.
The report highlights 13 cases involving denial of burial rights, with 12 occurring in Chhattisgarh, where Christian families were prevented from honoring their deceased according to their faith.
Among the most serious incidents documented was the beating of six pastors in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, in July. The pastors were taken to police custody after Bajrang Dal members allegedly laid siege to their church building and disrupted worship services on July 20, 2025. EFIRLC reports the pastors were beaten with wooden batons inside Durg jail after identifying themselves as pastors.
Another significant case involved the arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala on July 25, 2025. Sisters Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis were arrested at Durg Railway Station while accompanying three young tribal women to employment opportunities in Agra. Despite having written parental consent and proper documentation, authorities charged them under trafficking and anti-conversion laws following complaints by Hindutva activists.
Video footage obtained by EFIRLC shows the nuns being threatened by Jyoti Sharma of Durga Vahini Matrushakti inside the police station while officers were present. One of the women later reported being coerced into providing false testimony through alleged threats against her family.
“These 334 documented incidents represent a deeply concerning pattern that affects the constitutional promise of religious freedom for all Indians,” said Rev. Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India while speaking to Christian Today. “We call upon authorities at all levels to fulfill their constitutional duty to protect religious freedom for every citizen, regardless of faith.”
EFIRLC’s report notes that anti-conversion laws are being used to criminalize legitimate religious activities and social service work. The commission documented cases where Christians face potential imprisonment of up to 10 years for constitutionally protected activities.
The violations have forced Christian families to face displacement from ancestral villages due to social isolation and community exclusion. EFIRLC reports that the systematic targeting has created a climate of fear among Christian communities.
The commission maintains that the 334 documented cases likely represent only a fraction of actual violations, as many incidents go unreported due to fear of reprisals. EFIRLC calls for immediate review of anti-conversion laws and intervention to restore constitutional protections for religious minorities.
