Hundreds of people have staged a protest in Chhattisgarh, calling on government officials to investigate Christian churches and missionary activities in the region.
The demonstration took place on 3 November, when villagers marched to the district collector's office in Kabirdham. The protesters included members of the Baiga indigenous community and supporters of Hindu organisations.
Representatives from 18 villages in the Pandariya and Bodla areas submitted a memorandum to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, asking the state government to take immediate action over Christian missionary activities.
The protesters alleged that around 40 churches and prayer centres were operating without proper authorisation. They also accused Christian missionaries of converting indigenous people in remote forest communities.
According to the memorandum, some of the religious buildings had been constructed illegally on government-owned forest land. The group called for an official investigation and the removal of any structures found to be unauthorised.
Itwari Ram Machhiya, a leader from the Baiga community, urged district officials to visit the villages and examine the complaints directly.
He claimed that Christian conversion activities were affecting the traditional culture, customs and religious beliefs of indigenous communities.
Machhiya also called for an investigation into government employees from Scheduled Tribe communities who had converted to Christianity.
India's Constitution provides special protections and development benefits for recognised Scheduled Tribe communities, which include several indigenous groups. These protections are linked to recognised tribal status rather than membership of a particular religion. However, some Hindu organisations argue that people who convert to Christianity should no longer receive benefits reserved for tribal communities.
Santosh Singh, one of the protest organisers, described the group's demands as justified and warned that a larger demonstration could follow if officials failed to respond.
Christian representatives in Chhattisgarh have expressed concern over what they describe as increasing hostility towards Christian communities and missionaries.
Pastor Ravi, who works in the state, told UCA News that the demonstration was part of a wider campaign against Christians. He said such actions were intended to create fear and push Christian communities to the margins of society.
A Christian resident from one of the 18 villages, who requested anonymity, also described difficulties faced by believers in the area.
According to the resident, some Christians have faced problems accessing burial grounds, employment opportunities and government food supplies. He also alleged that Christian children had experienced harassment in local schools.
The protest comes amid growing tensions surrounding religious conversion in Chhattisgarh, where allegations of unlawful conversions have increased following the introduction of stricter legislation.
The Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill came into effect on 7 April after being passed by the state legislature on 19 March. It replaced a law dating back to 1968, when the region was still part of the former Madhya Pradesh state.
The legislation prohibits religious conversion through force, fraud or inducement.
Christians make up approximately 2 per cent of Chhattisgarh's estimated population of 30 million. However, published figures show that the state recorded 165 incidents targeting Christians in 2024 and 177 in 2025, placing it among the Indian states with the highest reported numbers of anti-Christian incidents.
The latest protest has brought renewed attention to religious tensions in the state, particularly concerns about the treatment of Christian communities, indigenous rights and the freedom to practise one's faith.
Source credit: Based on reporting by UCA News.
