Hindu Nationalists Attack Church, Injure 25 Worshippers

A Hindu nationalist mob brutally attacked a worship service on Sunday, May 31, in the remote Sadrapal village of Sukma district in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, injuring at least 25 worshippers, including the pastor’s pregnant wife.

Of the nearly 30 people injured, at least eight worshippers sustained severe head injuries and required emergency medical attention.

Photos and videos that went viral on social media showed bloodied men and women lying around the local hospital, some on stretchers and some on the floor due to a lack of hospital beds.

After the attack, the Hindus claimed that the attack was related to an ongoing land dispute. Local Christian leaders rejected such claims, stating the violence was motivated by hostility toward the Christian faith and worship activities.

The Incident

The attack occurred while about 70 Christians were gathered for a peaceful prayer service led by local fellowship leader Pastor Hunga Mandavi.

The Hindus allegedly barged into the gathering and attacked the congregation using sticks and traditional weapons like bows and arrows, and machetes. The assault left multiple men, women, and elderly believers with serious injuries.

The critically wounded, many bleeding and unconscious, were rushed to the Sukma district Government Hospital and the primary health center nearby.

Increase in Attacks

The Progressive Christian Alliance (PCA), a network of pastors, church leaders, and social workers, in media statements, said that attacks against Christians have increased since Chhattisgarh’s revised anti-conversion law was passed in March 2026.

“Almost every other day, we hear of such incidents in the state, and this can disturb communal harmony in local communities,” a PCA representative said. “Christians are very much worried.”

Local community leaders report that this attack took place amid escalating tensions. A similar incident occurred in April, when another Christian family in the district was beaten by extremists demanding they undergo Ghar Wapsi, a Hindu reconversion ceremony.

Broader Context

The Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 directly affects church gatherings in Sukma by shifting them from routine religious spaces into high-risk targets for legal prosecution and vigilante violence.

While written to regulate conversions, its broad definitions have effectively weaponized ordinary Sunday prayer services into illegal activities in the eyes of local extremist groups.

Chhattisgarh currently ranks No. 2 in the list of states registering hate speeches and violence against Christians. The first being the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the affected families and human rights advocates are actively calling on the Chhattisgarh state authorities to conduct a fair, prompt, and impartial investigation. They are urging law enforcement to upgrade the charges to reflect communal violence rather than downplaying it as a localized dispute.

This article was originally published on https://persecution.org/2026/06/08/hindu-nationalists-attack-church-injure-25-worshippers/