Members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal stormed into a church in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on August 10, accusing the Christian community of carrying out forced religious conversions. The mob vandalised the church, attacked people present there, and chanted the Hanuman Chalisa inside the premises, creating panic among worshippers.
A video circulating on social media shows a heated confrontation between the Hindutva workers and Christians, while police officers can be seen struggling to bring the situation under control.
Chhattisgarh has a long and tense history when it comes to religion and caste. Many Dalits and Adivasis have converted to Christianity over the years in an attempt to escape caste-based discrimination. However, the state has also witnessed repeated attacks on Christians by right-wing groups.
This is not an isolated incident. On July 26, two Catholic nuns from Kerala were arrested by Chhattisgarh police after being accused by Hindutva groups of human trafficking and carrying out conversions, though they were later granted bail. Earlier in May, a mob led by VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders barged into a church service, shouting slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and assaulting people inside.
The latest attack in Raipur has once again sparked fear among Christians in the state, highlighting the growing hostility they face amid rising allegations of conversions and frequent mob violence.
