The police response was ridiculous.
Rajesh Sharma, a Christian man charged under India’s anti-conversion law, is seeking anticipatory bail from the Supreme Court after being implicated in an attack on a church by Hindu nationalists. The incident occurred on March 9 at the Church of God in Raipur, where a mob of 70 to 100 individuals, led by members of the Hindu nationalist group Bajarang Dal, disrupted a worship service. The mob cut off the church’s electricity, vandalized cars, assaulted four Christians, and tried to break into the church, all while police stood by without intervening. The attackers shouted slogans like “Stop conversions” and caused significant damage, including breaking surveillance cameras and injuring several church members.
Among the victims were Vipin Lawrence, the church’s junior pastor, and Abhishek Samson, who sustained serious injuries, including cuts from a sharp object. Despite the presence of police, the mob continued its assault even as reinforcements arrived. The Christians were eventually escorted to a police station, where they faced harassment from both the mob and law enforcement. Sharma, along with other individuals involved in the church, was named in an FIR, with charges under the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act and other provisions related to religious conversion and public disturbance.
The incident follows rising tensions in the area, sparked by a proposal to build a Hindu temple near the church. During a colony meeting, some Christians expressed concerns about the temple’s location to avoid disturbances between the two religious groups. However, the comments were misinterpreted and later manipulated by Hindu nationalists, leading to the attack. On the same day as the assault, Hindus played loud worship music during the church service on Good Friday, further escalating tensions.
The church members have filed a counter-complaint against the attackers, but no arrests have been made. Rajesh Sharma’s bail plea was rejected by a lower court and the High Court, prompting the plan to appeal to the Supreme Court. Religious rights organizations, including Open Doors, have expressed concern over the growing persecution of Christians in India, citing the hostile environment created by the Hindu nationalist government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India now ranks 11th on Open Doors’ list of countries with the most severe Christian persecution, a significant decline from its position in 2013.