Ahmedabad: In a disturbing incident on Easter Sunday, members of the Hindu nationalist outfit Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) stormed into a church in Odhav, Ahmedabad, disrupting a peaceful prayer service and threatening worshippers, including women and children.
Viral video footage captured the VHP men entering the church armed with knives and sticks, shouting communal slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and accusing the congregation of forced religious conversions. The video sparked widespread outrage online.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, the Ahmedabad Police downplayed the assault, stating that VHP members had merely “gone” to the church on suspicion of conversion activities. No First Information Report (FIR) was registered, and no arrests have been made as of yet.
In a post on X, the Ahmedabad Police stated:
“VHP workers went to the location suspecting religious conversion, and the police arrived shortly afterward. The VHP workers have submitted an application at the Odhav police station regarding suspected conversion. There has been no incident of kidnapping or confinement. No violence or other untoward incident took place. Christian leaders are currently at the police station and have not made any formal complaint.”
Christian community leaders have expressed concern over the rising trend of hate-driven intrusions and the lack of legal action against the perpetrators. The incident has once again raised alarm over the shrinking space for minority religious practices and the failure of authorities to protect places of worship.
