Christians in Maharashtra are living in fear after a series of violent attacks and political statements against their community. In one remote village, 14 Christian families were targeted, prompting believers in nearby towns to reconsider their faith for safety.
Tensions rose sharply after a legislator from the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) offered a cash reward for killing any Christian attempting to convert Hindus. On the same day, the state’s chief minister warned that members of scheduled castes who convert to Christianity could lose government benefits, and announced plans to introduce an anti-conversion law.
Local pastors report widespread anxiety, with rumours that police and village leaders will summon all Christians on 15 August to question them about their conversions and check official records. Some fear such gatherings could trigger mob violence.
The fear is grounded in recent events. On 17 July, a mob of Hindu nationalists attacked 56 Christians in a village about 20 miles from one pastor’s church. Armed with sticks and other weapons, they broke into homes, dragged victims into the streets, and beat them, including women and children. Many suffered broken bones and severe cuts. Survivors fled, and their homes, farmland, and livestock were destroyed.
A pastor who sheltered the victims for 10 days said that even after police escorted them back, he was banned from visiting his congregation. “They have lost everything they had, and their future is dark and uncertain,” he said, noting that no arrests have been made despite repeated appeals.
Two days later, on 19 July, another mob of about 30 Bajrang Dal activists surrounded the home of the only Christian family in another village during a prayer meeting. Armed with rods and stones, they attempted to break in but left after destroying the family’s motorbike.
A Christian leader in the state, speaking anonymously, said the incidents are part of a coordinated campaign to justify new restrictions on conversions. “These attacks are not isolated,” he said. “They are part of a well-designed plan to pass an anti-conversion law in Maharashtra.”
Let's pray for God’s comfort and strength for those who have been attacked, displaced, and stripped of their livelihoods in Maharashtra. May the Lord protect every Christian family living under threat, grant them courage to stand firm in their faith, and provide for their needs in the midst of loss. We ask for justice to prevail, for the hearts of persecutors to be transformed, and for peace to return to their communities.
Adapted from ICC.
