Members of Hindu nationalist organisations disrupted a Christian prayer meeting at a private residence in Kawardha district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday, leading to a situation that required police intervention.
Approximately 25 members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal forcibly entered a private property in the Adarsh Nagar area where Christians had gathered for worship on 18 May. The right-wing mob pushed people around, shouted slogans and attempted to manhandle Christians even in the presence of the police as is clearly visible from video footage.
The group accused the worshippers of conducting forced religious conversions.
Jose Thomas, director of Holy Kingdom School, was among those present at the prayer service and was leading the same. Following the confrontation, Thomas was taken to Kotwali Kawardha police station amid allegations of conversion activities.
A case was registered against Thomas under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 299 for “intentional act of outraging religious feelings” and under the Chhattisgarh anti-conversion law.
Pushpendra Baghel, Additional Superintendent of Police, Kawardha, confirmed the incident to local media: “Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal workers have filed a complaint. They stated in their complaint that meetings were being held in a house in Adarsh Nagar where worship services were taking place.” He added that 25 people were being questioned and “action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.”
The Hindu organisations alleged that Thomas and his wife were using healing sessions as a cover for conversion activities. According to the complaint, the couple was “misleading the poor, uneducated, and young people” through faith healing practices.
“Thomas procured bail the same day but fears the harassment he and his family will go through because of this case,” said a Christian leader from Durg, Chhattisgarh to Christian Today.
The incident marks the latest in a series of disruptions targeting Christian worship in Chhattisgarh. Local Christian leaders report that their congregations increasingly face intimidation during prayer meetings, with private worship services and even private functions being characterized as “conversion activities.”
While India’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, several states including Chhattisgarh have enacted anti-conversion laws that regulate religious conversions. Christians in several districts have reported unauthorized entries into their worship spaces and subsequent police detentions following complaints by nationalist groups.
The prayer meeting on Sunday had more than 20 attendees, with women from surrounding villages also a part of the congregation. The women were left shaken and intimidated as the gathering was disrupted when members of the Hindu organisations forcibly entered the private property as per reports.
This incident comes two weeks after another demonstration in the same district. On 6 May, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested at the district collector’s office, specifically demanding the closure of Thomas’s school.
According to reports, the ABVP alleged that conversion activities were taking place at Holy Kingdom School in Kawardha, calling the situation concerning. They demanded that the school be closed immediately, its recognition revoked, and strict action taken against Thomas.
The Hindu organisations described the prayer meetings as featuring “loud clapping, shouting, chest-beating, and frightening sounds,” which they claim disturb neighbourhood residents.
India’s constitution guarantees the right to freedom of religion and peaceful assembly, including the right to practice one’s faith. However, tensions have increased in recent years in several states over allegations of religious conversions.
