Increase in violence against Indian Christians: report

The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) has said that persecution against Christians increased spectacularly in the country last year with the northern state of Uttar Pradesh topping the list.

The annual report, published on March 21, the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) noted that incidents targeting Christians and their institutions in the country climbed from 413 in 2022 to 601 in 2023.

"The rapidly deteriorating situation for religious minorities is a matter of grave concern,” Reverend Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI)  told on March 25.

The report, compiled by the Religious Liberty Commission of the EFI, highlights several regional hotspots where Christians face violence.

Around 279 cases and an unprecedented arrest of 440 Christians including pastors under a sweeping anti-conversion law, which the pro-Hindu government has enacted in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Chhattisgarh in central India witnessed 132 cases, followed by northern Haryana with 43 incidents.

The report also highlighted the ongoing sectarian strife in northeastern Manipur where the death toll has already crossed 220, most of them tribal Christians.

Lal added that “Christians, especially pastors in rural areas, were victims of violence, had their prayers disturbed, and places of worship attacked” last year.

Lal said that the “false narrative of forced conversion is being repeatedly exploited to justify horrific crimes of violence” by the fringe elements of the others.

Tribal Christians and former untouchables (Dalits) have become the most vulnerable group among Christians, Lal observed.