Since the Hindu nationalist BJP came to power in 2014, radical Hinduism has increased steadily. Several states outlaw proselytism, and there have been efforts to impose such so-called “anti-conversion laws” at a national level. The violence of radical Hindu groups or angry mobs of villagers is often allowed by local, state and national authorities dominated by the BJP. This means the Hindu radicals can act with increasing impunity.
Indian Supreme Court rules compensation for worst-ever anti-Christian violence ‘not enough’
India’s Supreme Court Chief Justice has ordered that adequate compensation has not yet been paid to the victims – in 2008 – of religiously-motivated violence by Hindus against Christians in the Kandhamal district of Odisha (formerly Orissa), eastern India. The success of the petition, brought by Raphel Cheenath, the local […]
India: Naxalites to blame for latest murder
Another Indian pastor has been killed, but this time Hindu extremism was not to blame. Instead, the murder of Yohan Maria Kumar in Telangana on 29 July came reportedly at the hands of a Maoist group, the Naxalites – another group that has been . He leaves a wife and four […]
Anti-Christian violence in India at an ‘alarming level’
A message is held aloft at a protest march against anti-Christian violence – in Bangalore in February 2015.World Watch Monitor The leader of a Christian advocacy group in India says that incidents of anti-Christian violence in the country have reached an “alarming level”, with more than 30 incidents a […]
India: Chhattisgarh Christians attacked by mob
Three Christians were attacked on Sunday (17 July) by a mob of more than 50 suspected Hindu extremists in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, . Umesh Patel, a student, his father, Sudhama, and a family friend, Kiran Vishwakarma, were seriously injured after Umesh had been questioned about his Christian […]
Repeal of Indian law banning ‘extremists’ in government
Catholic leaders in India are calling for a over an that prevents central government employees belonging to specific Hindu and Muslim groups. The faith-based law, dating back to 1966, bans membership of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Jamaat-e-Islami. Membership of , Narendra Modi, was not permitted for employees in central […]
India: bishop ‘shocked’ after Assam attack
A bishop in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam has spoken of his “shock” after a local priest was attacked with a machete on 19 June. Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo of Tezpur it was “the first ever incident like this in our region”. (Assam is one of , linked to […]
Hindu nationalist training video goes viral
A video showing members of a Hindu nationalist group receiving firearms training has gone viral on social media in India. The video depicting Bajrang Dal members in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh has been criticised as “coercing young people towards violence and encouraging violence against minorities”, . Other videos […]
Indian pastor and pregnant wife attacked by militant Hindus
An Indian pastor and his pregnant wife were assaulted and their church set on fire on Sunday evening (17 April) after they refused to praise a Hindu god. Pastor Dinbanhu Sameli, 30, and his wife, Meena, 26, seven months pregnant, lead a church in the troubled Bastar district of the […]
Kandhamal Christian granted month’s bail after 7 years in jail
Nearly 100 Christians were killed and 300 churches and 6,000 Christian homes damaged in the Kandhamal district of Odisha, after the killing death of a Hindu leader in 2008.Courtesy Open Doors International More than seven years since seven Indian Christians were arrested on suspicion of murdering a Hindu leader […]
India denies access to USCIRF – again
For the seventh straight year, India has refused to let US observers into its country to report on religious freedom. India denied visas to the delegation of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on 3 March, . USCIRF is an advisory body to the US president and the Congress. […]