New Delhi: A People’s Tribunal on Violence Against Christians in India has alleged widespread discrimination, violence, and institutional failures affecting Christian communities across several states. Convened by Karwan-e-Mohabbat and a collective of concerned citizens at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on June 1, the tribunal heard testimonies from survivors, lawyers, researchers, community representatives, and human rights defenders.
The tribunal followed field visits and hearings conducted in Chhattisgarh and Odisha during April and May 2026. Members met hundreds of affected individuals and documented accounts of violence, social exclusion, and denial of constitutional rights, particularly among Dalit and Adivasi Christians.
Testimonies from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Odisha described attacks on pastors, priests, and places of worship. Witnesses also reported social and economic boycotts, denial of burial rights, village expulsions, intimidation, forced displacement, and arrests under anti-conversion laws. Participants expressed concern over the targeting of house churches and small rural congregations.
The denial of burial rights emerged as a central issue during the proceedings. Father Ajay Singh from Odisha presented cases in which funeral processions were obstructed and burial access was denied. Speakers described such incidents as among the harshest forms of discrimination faced by Christian communities.
Presentations also highlighted social ostracisation, economic exclusion, and restrictions on access to community resources. Participants alleged misuse of legal provisions and questioned the implementation of anti-conversion laws.
Several speakers raised concerns about police inaction, delayed investigations, and the low number of First Information Reports compared with reported incidents. Some alleged that victims often faced pressure to accept compromises rather than pursue justice.
In the concluding session, tribunal members stated that the testimonies reflected a broader pattern of exclusion rather than isolated incidents. They warned that social boycott, denial of burial rights, attacks on worship, and forced displacement posed challenges to constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, dignity, and equal citizenship.
Story by India Tomorrow
