Two young Christian girls have reportedly been assaulted by a group of men in Telangana, following accusations that they were attempting to convert Hindu children to Christianity. The incident has sparked public protests and renewed concerns about attacks against Christians over allegations of religious conversion.
A video of the incident, which circulated publicly in early November, shows several men confronting and physically attacking the two girls. The footage has drawn criticism from Christian organisations and others concerned about religious freedom and the safety of minority communities.
The incident reportedly took place around two months earlier in Almasguda, in the Maheshwaram area of Rangareddy district, near Hyderabad. The location falls under the jurisdiction of Meerpet police station.
According to reports, two of the men involved were identified and arrested following protests by members of the Christian community outside the police station.
The video shows a group of men questioning the two young women, who appear to be minors, over allegations that they were trying to convert schoolchildren to Christianity by giving them chocolates.
The girls reportedly denied the accusations, explaining that they had only visited the area to see relatives.
Despite their explanation, one of the men began slapping and verbally abusing them in public. The footage shows the attacker repeatedly striking both girls while they pleaded with him to stop.
During the assault, one girl's spectacles were reportedly broken after she was struck in the face. Another man appeared to make limited attempts to restrain the attacker, but the violence continued.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the use of physical intimidation against Christians based on unverified allegations of religious conversion.
After the video became widely circulated, members of Dalit Christian organisations organised demonstrations on 4 November, demanding that those responsible be arrested and brought to justice.
Dalit Christians are members of historically marginalised Dalit communities who follow the Christian faith. They have raised concerns about discrimination and unequal treatment in different parts of the country.
The protests reportedly faced opposition from local Hindu groups, which responded with counter-slogans. As tensions increased, police deployed additional personnel to prevent the situation from escalating into further violence.
Authorities also used force to control the gathering and maintain public order.
Police subsequently arrested two men identified as being involved in the assault.
The incident has attracted criticism from Christian leaders, political representatives and human rights advocates, who have called for a fair investigation and stronger protection for religious minorities.
Former Telangana minister Sabitha Indra Reddy also condemned the attack in a statement on social media platform X.
She stressed that disagreements over religious activities should be addressed through legal procedures rather than violence, particularly when women and young people are involved.
The assault has renewed concerns about incidents in which individuals or groups attempt to confront and punish Christians over alleged religious conversions without allowing the authorities to investigate the claims.
Christian organisations have continued to call for accountability, protection from intimidation and respect for the constitutional right to practise one's religion freely.
Based on reporting by International Christian Concern (ICC).
