By C M Paul
Siliguri, Aug 8, 2025: The recent assault on a group of religious workers in Odisha and the earlier arrests of two nuns in Chhattisgarh have highlighted a growing and alarming trend of violence and harassment against Christian priests and nuns in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
These incidents, condemned by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and other Christian organizations, are being seen as part of a systematic pattern of targeting minority communities under the pretext of forced religious conversion, often with a perceived lack of accountability from authorities.
Litany of incidents
The attack on two priests, two nuns, and a catechist on August 6 in the Jaleswar parish of Balasore, Odisha, is the latest in a series of similar incidents. A mob of some 70 persons, allegedly affiliated with the Bajrang Dal, physically assaulted the group, who were returning from a requiem Mass. Despite the presence of police, reports suggest no arrests were made, and an FIR was not registered as of the day after the attack.
This follows the highly publicized arrest of two nuns, Sisters Vandana Francis and Preethy Mary, in Chhattisgarh. They were detained at the Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh on charges of human trafficking and forced conversion, following a complaint by a Bajrang Dal member. The arrests sparked widespread protests, and while the nuns were eventually granted bail after nine days, the incident showcased the increasing vulnerability of Christian clergy.
Other “glaring incidents” that have been reported by various human rights bodies and media outlets include:
On March 24, 2024, a pastor was beaten during a Palm Sunday fellowship at Jamui village, Maharajganj district, in Uttar Pradesh, sustaining serious head injuries. According to a report by the Evangelical Fellowship of India, no significant legal action was taken against the attackers.
Again in Uttar Pradesh, a Christian Dalit man was tonsured and paraded through the village in Fatehpur on December 27, 2024, accused of conversion, and forcibly “reconverted” to Hinduism.
In Chhattisgarh last year, a pastor and fellow Christians, including women, were attacked while returning from a lunch gathering in Jashpur district. The pastor was left unconscious and required hospitalization.
In another tragic case in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh on May 4, 2024, a villager was killed after refusing to renounce his Christian faith, with local authorities reportedly framing the murder as a land dispute.
This year in Madhya Pradesh Holy Spirit Sister Sheela Savari Muthu was charged with violating the state’s anti-conversion laws after organizing a health camp for children of domestic workers in February at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. She described the experience as: “It is very painful that our small gesture… is painted as a religious conversion activity.”
Voices from the ground: Testimonies of fear and faith
The escalating violence has forced many to live in a state of constant fear.
Former editor of India Currents weekly, Capuchin Father Suresh Mathew, shared with Matters India, “These attacks are not just random acts of violence; they are carefully orchestrated and perpetrated with impunity. The perpetrators, frequently affiliated with extremist nationalist groups, seek to intimidate and marginalize the community, undermining their right to freedom of religion and belief.”
Presentation Sister Elsa Muttathu, national secretary of the Conference of Religious India, stated, “We are living in a very difficult situation as everything we do can be termed as conversion activities.” She added that nuns now fear traveling in their religious habits, which have become “symbols of religious conversion and could lead to arrest.”
Another testimony from a pastor, who has been beaten multiple times and is constantly watched, reveals the deep-seated pressure faced by religious workers. Despite the threats and attacks, he remains determined, stating, “The more we face persecution, the more the Lord will bless our ministry.”
The national reality
As of August, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) govern in 21 states and union territories across India, reflecting their continued dominance in national and regional politics. The party holds power independently in 15 states, including major regions like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, as well as northeastern states such as Assam, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.
In addition, six states and territories are governed by NDA allies, such as Andhra Pradesh under the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Bihar led by Janata Dal (United), and Meghalaya under the National People’s Party (NPP). This expansive control enables the BJP and its partners to significantly influence legislative agendas, administrative policies, and socio-political narratives across much of the country.
The systemic challenge
Data compiled by Christian bodies such as the United Christian Forum shows a dramatic surge in incidents against Christians, from 127 in 2014 to over 834 in 2024. These reports often highlight police inaction and the misuse of anti-conversion laws, which critics say are increasingly used as a tool to harass and imprison Christians on fabricated charges.
The rising frequency and brazenness of these attacks, combined with a perceived lack of accountability, have fostered a climate of fear and insecurity among Christian communities. Church leaders and human rights advocates continue to demand justice and call for greater protection of religious minorities’ constitutional rights.