Persecution of Christians Called an “Epidemic” as Hundreds of Incidents Are Reported Yearly
WASHINGTON — International Christian Concern (ICC) is calling on Indian authorities to take decisive action against a wave of anti-Christian attacks, after mobs ransacked three churches in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh this summer. The attacks underscore what ICC describes as a growing “epidemic” of Christian persecution across India.
On July 13, a mob of approximately 50 men stormed a Pentecostal church in the village of Gopalpuri. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers beat Pastor Tanuram Sahur and vandalized the premises, while three police officers allegedly stood by without intervening. Pastor Sahur was hospitalized with injuries sustained during the assault, his son Manish Sahu told UCA News.
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The incident followed an earlier attack in June, when another mob destroyed the church’s roof, damaged a water tank, and smashed air coolers.
Additional Pentecostal churches in Hatkeshwar and Panchpedi Bakhara were also targeted, with one congregation reportedly ordered to close permanently. Christians make up just 2 percent of the approximately 30 million people in Chhattisgarh state, which has become a flashpoint for religious violence in India.
ICC President Jeff King issued a sharp rebuke of the Indian government’s failure to act.
“Hindu extremists are waging a vicious campaign against India’s Christians, with pastors beaten and churches torched in Chhattisgarh, as mobs act with impunity under the shadow of BJP rhetoric,” King said. “This isn’t just vandalism — it’s a deliberate assault on religious freedom, and the world must wake up to India’s escalating persecution crisis before more believers pay with their lives.”
According to the United Christian Forum, at least 165 anti-Christian attacks were reported in Chhattisgarh in 2024 alone. Nationally, hundreds more go unreported each year due to fear of retaliation or lack of legal recourse.
King further criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling his silence “deafening.”
“Narendra Modi’s deafening silence as radical Hindu mobs attack pastors and burn churches in Chhattisgarh and across India emboldens a culture of persecution that threatens India’s Christian minority. His inaction is intentional complicity and a cornerstone of the escalating violence against believers,” said King. “The world must hold him accountable before this crisis spirals further.”
The BJP-led government has long faced criticism for failing to protect minority communities, particularly Christians and Muslims, from mob violence and state discrimination. ICC and other human rights organizations are urging international pressure on India to uphold religious freedom and prosecute those responsible for sectarian attacks.
Thrive News will continue to monitor the situation as advocacy groups and Christian leaders press for justice and protection for India’s embattled Christian communities.
