This prompted widespread concern and outrage.
A group of Christians, including women, were attacked by members of Hindutva organizations in Chhattisgarh, resulting in a pastor being hospitalized after losing consciousness. The incident occurred as they were returning from a gathering, with the assailants wielding sticks and ambushing them as they left a resident’s house. The attackers, recognized from their participation in Ram temple rallies, subjected the group to physical violence and harassed women who tried to intervene.
Pastor Mahesh Mahananda, rendered unconscious in the assault, was rushed to a local health center and later transferred to Holy Cross Hospital for further treatment. While Mehto, the resident whose house they had visited, filed the initial complaint on behalf of the Christians, a counter-FIR was filed by the Hindutva group, alleging assault and stone-throwing by the Christians during a religious ceremony.
The police handling of the case raised concerns, as the FIR from the Hindutva group was registered before the Christians’ complaint, suggesting bias. Both parties were charged under various sections, including criminal intimidation and causing hurt. This incident is part of a concerning pattern, with at least five similar attacks on pastors reported in the Jashpur region alone, indicating a worsening trend of violence.
Additionally, another incident was documented in Kundra village on the same day, where a pastor faced threats and intrusion into his home, being coerced to convert to Hinduism under severe penalties. These events underscore the deteriorating situation for religious minorities in the region. Chhattisgarh ranks among the states witnessing significant resistance and persecution against the Christian community, with 84 reported attacks in 2023 according to data from the United Christian Forum, trailing closely behind Uttar Pradesh, which recorded 155 incidents during the same period.