By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi, July 14, 2020: The first half of 2000 saw 121 incidents of violence against Christians in 15 states, according to the data collected by the New Delhi based United Christian Forum (UCF).

Covid-19 pandemic and the protracted lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the virus has not brought much relief to Indian Christians, remarks the forum in a press release.

The incidents have, sadly, taken the lives of two. Among the attacks, 95 were mob violence.

Several churches attacked were either illegally occupied or sealed shut. An additional 20 incidents of social boycott took place in several areas as well.

UCF and its networking partners – Alliance Defending Freedom India (ADF India), Religious Liberty Commission of Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) and Christian Legal Association (CLA) have managed to get 19 churches reopened, 28 pastors released (either on bail or acquitted of false charges) and obtained positive outcomes in 45 cases of false conversion charges in various courts of India, the UCF statement claims.

These incidents reveal that the freedom to practice one’s faith is being curtailed in 15 of 28 states in India.

UCF regrets that no political party is opposing such acts of violence.

“Nobody should be persecuted because of their faith. It is worrying to see these horrendous acts of mobocracy still continuing even after a slew of directions to the government from the Supreme Court Bench. The police and local administration who are responsible for law and order, must take quick action against anyone who involves themselves in mob violence,” said UCF national president Michael Williams.

Meanwhile, another new norm, the trend of not filing First Information Reports (FIRs) against the perpetrators of violence, continues to grow unchecked. First Information Reports were registered only for 20 of the 121 incident.

Modus operandi followed in all these incidents is similar—a mob, accompanied by the local police, arrives at a prayer service shouts slogans, beats up the men, women and children. Then the pastors are arrested or detained by the police under the false allegation of conversion.

Following is the list of States wherein violence against Christians have been reported: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.

In Chhattisgarh from where the highest numbers of incidents of violence against Christians are reported (32 incidents), the majority of them are of social ostracism wherein the Christian families are threatened to renounce their faith in Christ. Those who resist are denied basic public facilities including drinking

There were 66 women and 16 children who sustained injuries in the 121 reported incidents. Tribals accounted for 106 of the total injured.

The numbers of incidents recorded in 2014 were below 150; nearly 200 in 2015, over 200 in 2016, crossed 250 in 2017, doubled to 300 in 2018. 2019 witnessed 328 incidents.

The data on record with UCF and its partners shows the dangerous trend of violence against Christians has been steadily increasing, said A.C. Michael, convener of the UCF.