By Matters India Reporter
NEW DELHI, March 25, 2026 — The Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India says its 2025 findings show “a sustained pattern of hostility” affecting both individual believers and congregational life, with northern and central states recording the highest cases of intimidation.
The commission documented 747 incidents during the year, based on more than 915 reported cases that underwent verification through field assessments, interviews and follow-up with authorities.
“The findings reflect a sustained pattern of hostility affecting both individual believers and congregational life across multiple regions of the country,” the report states.
“Incidents documented during the reporting period included disruption of prayer meetings and church services, threats and harassment directed at pastors and believers, arrests and criminal complaints linked to allegations of religious conversion, social coercion against Christian families, and instances of physical violence and damage to property.”
State-wise distribution of incidents
The report shows a sharp concentration of cases in several northern and central states, while noting that incidents were recorded nationwide.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number with 217 incidents, followed by Chhattisgarh with 177. Rajasthan reported 51 cases, Madhya Pradesh 47 and Haryana 38.
Other states included Karnataka (31), Jharkhand (30), Bihar (25), Maharashtra (20), Punjab (20) and Odisha (19). Smaller numbers were recorded in Andhra Pradesh (13), Gujarat (12), Uttarakhand (10), West Bengal (8), Jammu and Kashmir (6), Himachal Pradesh (6), Telangana (6), Delhi (5), Assam (3) and Tamil Nadu (3).
The commission said the distribution indicates that “hostility is not confined to any single region,” with incidents reported across “northern, central, southern, and eastern India.”
However, it added that Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh together accounted for nearly half of all recorded incidents during the reporting period.
Patterns of intimidation and violence
The report identifies recurring patterns in how incidents unfold, often beginning with allegations of religious conversion and escalating into disruption or violence.
“In many cases, prayer meetings or worship services were interrupted following complaints alleging unlawful religious conversion,” it states.
“Pastors and congregants were sometimes detained or questioned by authorities after such complaints were filed.”
In other cases, “mobs assembled outside places of worship, issuing threats or demanding that gatherings be stopped,” while “social pressure within villages and local communities also emerged as a significant factor.”
Threats and harassment were the most common form of hostility, accounting for 204 incidents. The report also recorded 112 cases of physical violence and 110 incidents involving the disruption of church services or prayer meetings.
Legal pressure was another key feature, with 86 arrests and 98 cases involving false accusations or complaints, often linked to conversion allegations.
Concerns over enforcement and underreporting
The commission raised concerns about the response of authorities and the broader implications for religious freedom.
“Responses from local administrative and law enforcement authorities were frequently reported as delayed, inconsistent, or procedurally inadequate,” the report says.
It added that victims and church leaders “reported difficulties in registering complaints or obtaining timely protection from authorities.”
The report also cautions that the documented figures may not reflect the full scale of the problem.
“It is important to note that the incidents documented in this report do not represent the full scale of violations affecting Christian communities,” it states.
“Many incidents remain unreported due to fear of retaliation, social pressure, or lack of access to legal remedies.”
The findings, it concludes, point to ongoing concerns regarding “the protection of constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion and the equal application of the law,” and highlight the need for “consistent enforcement of legal protections” and safeguards for communities practicing their faith.
Read the full report.