A recent report from the United Christian Forum (UCF) revealed that its national helpline received reports of 245 incidents of violence against Christians across India during the first four months of 2025. The data, collected through the organization’s toll-free helpline service (1-800-208-4545), indicates that Christians in India face an average of two violent incidents per day.
“Christians in India continue to face two incidents of violence per day, as reported through the UCF helpline number 1-800-208-4545; there has been a sharp increase since 2014,” the UCF stated in its release.
According to the UCF’s Violence Monitor Report 2025, incidents of violence against Christians have shown a consistent upward trajectory over the past decade. While 127 incidents were documented in 2014, the numbers have climbed dramatically: 142 in 2015, 226 in 2016, 248 in 2017, 292 in 2018, 328 in 2019, 279 in 2020, 505 in 2021, 601 in 2022, 734 in 2023, and 834 in 2024.
The current year’s data reveals a month-by-month breakdown of the 245 incidents reported between January and April: 55 incidents in January, 65 in February, 76 in March, and 49 in April. These incidents span 19 states across India.
Uttar Pradesh leads with the highest number of reported incidents at 50, followed closely by Chhattisgarh with 46 incidents. Karnataka ranks third with 22 reported cases. Other states with significant numbers include Rajasthan (18), Jharkhand (17), Bihar (16), Andhra Pradesh (14), and Madhya Pradesh (14).
The remaining states on the list are Gujarat (8), Maharashtra (6), Punjab (6), West Bengal (11), Haryana (12), Himachal Pradesh (3), Uttarakhand (2), Odisha (2), Delhi (1), Tamil Nadu (1), and Telangana (1).
AC Michael, National Coordinator for the UCF, told Christian Today: “The pattern of violence and its widespread geography raise serious concerns over the protection of minority rights and the rule of law in India. With UCF documenting these cases, the need for urgent policy intervention and accountability grows stronger to preserve India’s constitutional promise of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens.”
The UCF report highlights that Christian tribals and women have been disproportionately affected by these violent incidents. Specifically, the data identifies 30 tribals and 6 Dalits among those targeted during this period.
The documented incidents encompass a wide range of offenses including physical violence, murder, sexual violence, intimidation and threats, social boycott, damage to religious properties, desecration of religious symbols, and disruption of prayer services.
The UCF helpline, established on January 19, 2015, provides support to Christians facing persecution throughout India. It offers guidance toward legal remedies and assists victims in engaging with public authorities. This service has proven particularly vital for vulnerable communities who may be unfamiliar with their legal protections.
The widespread nature of these incidents across India’s diverse geography raises significant concerns regarding minority rights protection and the enforcement of rule of law. The UCF’s systematic documentation of these cases underscores the need for urgent policy interventions and accountability measures to uphold India’s constitutional guarantees of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens.
The continued rise in violence against Christians represents a troubling trend that has persisted and accelerated over the past decade. With the current rate of incidents already averaging two per day in the first four months of 2025, the annual total could potentially exceed previous years if the pattern continues.
The geographical distribution of these incidents, spanning from northern states like Uttar Pradesh to southern states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, demonstrates that this is not an isolated regional issue but rather a nationwide concern requiring national attention.
As the UCF continues to monitor and document these cases, the organization’s data provides a crucial resource for understanding the scope and nature of religious persecution in contemporary India, particularly as it affects Christian communities across the country.
