Chhattisgarh Youth Forum to stage mass protest over unresolved attacks on Christians in Bijapur

The Chhattisgarh Youth Forum (Chhattisgarh Yuva Manch), led by politician Narendra Bhawani, has announced its decision to organised a protest on 23 September 2024, at the Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) office. As per Bhawani, this action is in response to the failure of authorities to arrest the culprits responsible for a violent attack on Christians in the village of Kosalnar, Bijapur district, nearly a month ago.

The said attack occurred on 23 August 2024, and was allegedly carried out by a mob incited by local Party leaders and individuals associated with the some religoius organisations. According to Bhawani, Christians in Kosalnar were brutally beaten by the mob, forcing many of them to flee the village. He said in a statement issued on 16 September 2024 that "the Christians were mercilessly beaten up after an attacking mob, led by political leaders and people associated with the other organisations, attacked them in the village of Kosalnar". Bhawani asserted that the attack was illegal and unconstitutional, yet arrests had been made so far.

As per the statement by the Forum, the violence created such an environment of fear in the Christian community that many have left their homes and are yet to return, seeking refuge in the nearby villages. "Many people had to leave their homes, and even now, some have not returned to the village, are living in nearby villages to save their lives," Bhawani said. He expressed shock that, despite written complaints and official reports filed with the authorities, almost a month after the incident, no legal actions or arrests had been made.

Bhawani further elaborated the details of the assault in his statement on 16 September. He said that Christians of Kosalnar were attacked because of their faith. The area comes under the Barsur Police Station in Bijapur. Members of the BJP and RSS allegedly incited the local people against the Christians which resulted in the violence against them. "Party workers and Religious organisation affiliates, when they reached Kosalnar, not only hurled abuses but also threatened to kill the Christians, warning them that they would not be permitted to harvest their crops unless they renounced their Christian faith," Bhawani explained.

Bhawani claims that the local Christian community approached the proper authorities and filed formal complaints, naming the perpetrators. Yet, up until now, no action has been taken by the law enforcement officials indicating a breakdown in law and order. Bhawani has been vocal on his attack on the BJP-led government by saying it has failed in the level of governing and constitutional rights to its citizens. “This is the state of justice in our so-called free India, where even the constitutional right to religious freedom is being denied,” he said.

Reacting to this, Bhawani and the Chhattisgarh Youth Forum have decided to lead a mass protest at the office of the Superintendent of Police at Dantewada on September 23. Bhawani made it clear that unless arrests are made by that date, protests will become more aggressive. “If no action is taken by September 23, the SP office in Dantewada will be surrounded by thousands, and arrests will be demanded,” he said. He also stated that if nothing is done by the local authorities, the protest will approach the doorsteps of the Divisional Commissioner's office and eventually to the Home Minister's residence in Raipur.

Along with the violence, Bhawani also pointed out the threats made to the Christians by the village secretary and sarpanch. According to Bhawani, they warned the Christians that they would not let them harvest their crops. He also demanded actions against them since making such threats violates the very law and the Constitution.