India: Christian families in Chhattisgarh attacked and pressured to convert

As reported by Maktoob Media on 25 June 2024, a mob of vigilantes affiliated to radical Hindu RSS and its affiliate organization, Bajrang Dal, attacked Christian families on 12 June in a village in Jagdalpur district in southern Chhattisgarh, located in central India. At least two Christians were knocked unconscious while three others were hospitalized with severe injuries. Before the mob banished Christian families from the village, they were forced into signing a statement agreeing that – in order to return to the village – they would convert to Hinduism within 10 days. It should be noted that this coercion took place in the presence of and with the cooperation of local authorities, including the president of the local village council. The Christians have now fled the village fearing that if they return retaining their Christian faith, they will be killed.

Ryan Benjamin working for World Watch Research (WWR) comments: “Hindu vigilantes have been harassing these Christian families since 2023 by repeatedly demanding that they denounce their faith, reconvert to Hinduism, or lose the right to work on their own farmland. On 12 June, the mob attacked their properties, demolished farm fencing and destroyed crops, all resulting in huge financial loss and crippling the Christians’ livelihood. Despite such harassment going on for almost a year, the police has failed to provide any protection or support to the affected Christian families. Meanwhile, it would seem that the local administration is firmly in favor of the Hindu vigilantes, who have been able to attack Christians with impunity ever since Hindu nationalist BJP rose to power in Chhattisgarh at both the state and national level.”

Ryan Benjamin continues: “State level elections were held in Chhattisgarh in November 2023. The BJP won the elections gaining 54 out of 90 seats (an increase of 39 seats compared to the 2018 elections), while the Congress party lost the elections, gaining only 35 seats (a loss of 33 seats). In the general elections held in April and May 2024, the BJP won 10 out of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh (a gain of one seat), while the Congress party only managed to win one seat. Given the near total hegemony of the BJP in Chhattisgarh – and therefore of the Hindu nationalist movement referred to as ‘Hindutva’ –, the attacks on religious minorities are likely to increase in frequency in the foreseeable future. For more background see the new WWR report ‘India - Spotlight on Kerala, Odisha and Chhattisgarh’ (July 2024).”