Church Vandalised in Raipur Amid Rising Attacks on Christians in Chhattisgarh
Raipur, Chhattisgarh – A church in WRS Colony, Raipur, was vandalised by a mob allegedly affiliated with Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on March 3, intensifying concerns over the rising tide of anti-Christian violence in Chhattisgarh and across India. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers, mostly young Hindu men in their 20s, shouted religious slogans, broke down the church’s walls, and tied a saffron flag bearing the image of “angry Hanuman” to the remains of the structure.
The incident is part of a growing trend. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), in its recent Religious Liberty Commission report, noted a sharp spike in anti-Christian violence — from 601 cases in 2023 to 840 in 2024, many involving physical assaults, church demolitions, disruptions of prayer services, and arrests under anti-conversion laws.
Eyewitnesses, including young schoolgirl Seema (name changed), described how men entered the one-room church with hammers while only a few women and children were present. Allegations suggest that the mob hurled communal abuses and were emboldened by the presence of police, who allegedly allowed the attack to proceed by claiming only the upper structure was being illegally constructed.
Pastor Benu, the local pastor, said threats have become a daily occurrence. “The situation is tense. Despite complaints and evidence, no arrests have been made,” he said. The attackers reportedly also looted supplies like rice and oil from the church premises.
Outside the colony, a group of young Hindu boys admitted they were part of the mob. One of them, Deepak, a 20-year-old school dropout, openly declared, “If Christians want to live here, they must accept Hindutva. Otherwise, they can leave.”
The boys were linked to a group named “Jai Bajrang Yuva Ganoshatsav Samiti,” whose posters are visible across the area. Local Christians say they now live in fear, unable even to remove the saffron flag tied to the church ruins.
Across Chhattisgarh, which recorded 150 incidents of violence against Christians in 2024, tribal Christians face not just physical attacks but also social and economic exclusion. In other parts of the state, pastors have been assaulted, churches vandalised, and communities pressured to renounce their faith.
The Chhattisgarh government, under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, has announced plans to introduce a more stringent anti-conversion law. While the state already has the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968, the new law is expected to be harsher.
Pastor Benu refuted claims of forced conversions, saying, “People come to church on their own. These are testing times for us.”
According to EFI’s report, January 2024 saw the highest number of attacks on Christians, followed by September, March, and October. States leading in such incidents include Uttar Pradesh (188), followed by Chhattisgarh (150), Rajasthan (40), Punjab (38), and others.
Christian leaders and civil rights organisations continue to raise alarm over the rising atmosphere of hate and impunity, calling for accountability and protection of religious freedom.
