Just before Christmas, police have arrested seven Christians in Uttar Pradesh, India, following a complaint that they made derogatory comments against Hindu deities, according to Union of Catholic Asian (UCA) News. UCA News reports that the arrests took place Dec. 13, after members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, reported the allegations to the police. The pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janta Party runs the government in the northern state Uttar Pradesh. According to UCA News, before the Party amended the state’s anti-conversion law this year, only relatives or persons affected by the alleged violation could complain to the police. The amendment expands this, allowing anyone to report a complaint. According to AsiaNews, the maximum penalties for violating this law have been broadened. Now, the maximum possible sentencing is life imprisonment, and the maximum fine has been raised by an additional 400,000 rupees. AsiaNews also reports that the seven Christians are “accused of ‘forced conversions’ at a house celebration.” The group providing legal help to the arrested Christians told UCA News that they applied for bail Dec. 16. A Christian identified as Pastor Jiyalal told UCA News that Christians in the region are experiencing fear. “In most cases, we have found the allegations false,” he said.

MUMBAI, India – Christian families in a village in India say they feel uncertain about Christmas celebrations amid local pressure from Hindu nationalists. The tensions began in on November 24 in the central state of Chhattisgarh, a day after a group of locals did not allow the family of Anthi Mandavi – a 35-year-old local Christian who died from tuberculosis – to perform her burial. According to Newslaundry, Anthi’s brother Charan claimed the police were present but did not intervene after a mob stopped the funeral and the family eventually had to take the body elsewhere for the burial. Station House Officer alias Police Inspector Ganesh Yadav said the police have increased patrolling in the area, which has a population of around 400, following the assault. But local Christians have accused the police of inaction. They said the required report was never lodged, and even the complaint by seven Christian villagers about the assault was “reworded” to link it to a “land dispute” instead of “religious hatred.” A day after the police complaint, the Hindu group that attacked them served all the 23 Christian families a show cause notice referring to their homes – about engaging in “illegal” construction on tribal land. “We were told

In a solemn and intellectually charged atmosphere, scholars, book lovers, and concerned citizens gathered for the release of the book "Report on the Manipur Violence: A Historical Contextualization of State-Sponsored Ethnic Cleansing." The event, organized by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), took place amidst ongoing concerns over the violence that has gripped Manipur since May 3, 2023. The program began with a prayer by Evangelist Hoijalhing, setting a reflective tone for the event. N. Touthang, representing the Kuki Inpi Delhi, welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of dispelling misinformation about the conflict, often perpetuated by those responsible for the violence. Rt. Rev. Paothang Haokip, Bishop and Deputy Moderator of the Good Shepherd Church of India, invoked verses from the Book of Hebrews to inspire resilience. In his dedication prayer, he sought divine blessings for unity and strength in navigating the challenges facing the Kuki-Zo people. Benjamin Mate, Chairman of KOHUR, introduced the book, outlining its critical analysis of the historical and political factors contributing to the Manipur crisis. He stressed the report's role in countering narratives that have obscured the true nature of the violence, framing the work as a tool for justice and truth. Rajya Sabha MP from Mizoram, K

Five Christians, including a pastor, have been arrested in a northern Indian state under a sweeping anti-conversion law after hardline Hindu activists objected to their holding a Sunday prayer meeting. Police in Uttar Pradesh on Dec. 8 arrested Pastor Vineet, his wife Payal, who were both identified by a single name, and three others, who were not named, in Kherki Mujkkipur village in Meerut district. The pastor was holding a prayer meeting and a medical camp at his house. The police recovered religious books, registers, bank details, and other materials from the house, the local Hindi newspaper Jagaran reported on Dec. 9. Vineet embraced Christianity a decade ago and converted around 250 people, according to the police. He purchased the house six months ago and organized Sunday prayer meetings there under the banner of the Kingdom of God Ministries Trust. The Dec. 8 meeting was attended by 50 people when a mob from the Hindu Raksha Dal (Hindu Protection Army) reached the spot and objected to it. The Dal's state president Gaurav Parashar alleged people were being converted at the prayer meeting and informed the police. Police arrived on the scene and detained Pastor Vineet and the others. They were charged under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition

Bangalore, India The Christian leadership of Assam in northeast India has expressed “deep concern over relentless attacks on the Christian community” in the state ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Assam Christian Forum (ACF) “expressed shock, pain, and anguish over the relentless attacks on the Christian community, its institutions, and individuals over the past year,” the ACF said after a Nov. 28 meeting presided over by its chairman, Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati. “We need protection against what is happening and urge the government to ensure the safety of the Christians,” Moolachira told CNA on Dec. 3. The diverse concerns of the Christian community in Assam — which accounts for nearly 4% of the state’s 35 million people — were listed in the statement the ACF issued after the meeting involving a dozen key Christian church leaders. The ACF lamented that there have been several attacks on Christian institutions “demanding the removal of faith-revered statues and pictures.” “This blatant disregard for religious freedom and tolerance is unacceptable,” the statement said. “Police conducting investigations against the church and individuals in [several] districts has created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation,” the organization said. ACF also pointed to reported “false and malicious accusations against the church”

In recent years, misinformation has led to severe consequences for Christians in India, including violence, social unrest and even death. An example occurred in May 2023 during the ethnic and religious violence in Manipur, where clashes between the majority Hindu Meitei community and the Christian Kuki tribe resulted in tragic casualties and destruction of properties, including over three dozen churches. In one particularly harrowing incident, a Christian woman was pulled from her car and her son was killed by a Meitei mob amid the ongoing violence, which has been partly fueled by rumors and misinformation within communities. The conflict forced around 23,000 people, predominantly Christians, to flee their homes as violence escalated in the region, highlighting the deadly impact misinformation can have in a climate of ethnic and religious tension. The United Christian Forum (UCF), which tracks incidents of hate crimes against Christians, has reported a concerning surge in violence targeting the community. Their 2023 data shows over 687 documented attacks, indicating that approximately two Christians face violence every day across India. This trend underscores an ongoing pattern of hostility affecting the Christian population. As misinformation continues to challenge communities across India, faith-based organizations are stepping up to promote understanding and counter harmful narratives. Through

CHHATTISGARH, India (BP) – At least 40 members of New Bethesda Jesus Tribal Ministry in Michwar Village remain sheltered at the church two weeks after the village council banned them from the community unless they renounce their faith. The Christians are among 100 impacted by a joint resolution adopted Nov. 17 by eight village councils in the Sukma District of Chhattisgarh State. Christians who don’t denounce Jesus must leave the villages or their fields, belongings and property will be looted, the joint resolution threatened. When the Christians in Michwar Village tried to file a police complaint on Nov. 18, they returned home to find a mob of at least 1,500 individuals looting their agricultural harvests and demanding that they either renounce their faith or flee the village, CSW reported. Police left the area without intervening, despite the guarantee of freedom of religion or belief under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. Mervyn Thomas, CSW founding president, condemned the village councils’ actions. “We call on state authorities to intervene as a matter of urgency, ensuring that reparations are made for any loss of or damage to property since the resolution was passed,” Thomas said Nov. 28, “and that Christians in these villages are free to

The BJP-led Rajasthan government on Monday cleared a bill to curb religious conversions by force, fraud or inducement. The bill, which introduces stringent measures against unlawful conversions, was a key agenda item in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma last month. State’s Law Minister Jogaram Patel defended the bill and said, “Several instances of religious conversions through inducements or fraud have come to light, necessitating this law.” He emphasised that the law would prevent individuals or institutions from using coercion to alter a person’s faith. Notably, this is not the state’s first attempt at introducing an anti-conversion law. In 2006, a similar bill was introduced by Vasundhara Raje’s BJP government but failed to receive governor and presidential assent. In 2017, the Rajasthan High Court issued guidelines for interfaith marriages to prevent forced conversions Penalties under the new Bill The Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill prescribes severe penalties for forced conversions, including imprisonment ranging from two to ten years and fines up to Rs 25,000. Conversions involving minors, women or individuals from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) carry harsher penalties, with jail terms between three and ten years and fines of Rs 50,000. For large-scale conversions, the punishment

Navsari; A video allegedly showing a teacher from the Seventh Day School in Navsari’s Vejalpore area, along with his wife, encouraging religious conversions, is circulating on social media. The video, which depicts an oath declaring Jesus as the only God, has sparked outrage among Hindu organizations. The controversy began when the video surfaced, showing Kamal Naskar, a teacher at the Seventh Day English Medium School, and his wife, Sarita, leading a Christian prayer with children and others. In the video, Sarita is heard saying, “Jesus is the true God,” and administering an oath renouncing faith in Hindu deities in favor of Jesus. The incident has provoked strong reactions from Hindu groups in Navsari’s Vejalpore area. The oath reportedly included the words,“ઈશુ આ..!! હમારે હિન્દુ ધર્મ મેં જે ભી દૈવી દેવતા હો, જે વાચા વાચી થી, હમ ઉસ વાચા કો ઈસુ કે નામ સે તોડ દેતે હૈ… ઈસુ હી જીવિત પરમેશ્વર હૈ…મેરા ખાના, મેરી પ્રીત પ્રભુ યેશુ કો હી… ઈસુ પરમેશ્વર કો ભજેંગે, અબ તું હિ હમારા પરમેશ્વર હૈ…” Following the video’s circulation, the AntarRashtriya Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Bajrang Dal filed a written application with the Navsari District Police Chief. They accused Kamal Naskar and Sarita of misleading and converting underprivileged Hindus, as

In the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, eight village councils have passed a resolution that bans Christians from staying in their villages, requiring them to either renounce their faith or leave. The order impacts about 100 Christians whose property and fields were threatened with confiscation if they did not comply, according to reports. The villages in Sukma district collectively approved the resolution, instructing Christians to either abandon their faith or face the loss of all belongings and property, reported the U.K.-based organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide. A local leader from one of the affected villages, Michwar, upheld the decree, reportedly asserting that the authority of the village councils supersedes India's Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion under Article 25. The ban, which appears to be a targeted effort to eradicate Christianity in these areas, has forced at least 40 people from their homes, according to Asia News. On Nov. 18, a group of Christians lodged a complaint at the Gadiras Police Station, presenting audio evidence of statements made by the village chief of Michwar. However, the police refused to register a formal complaint, which is necessary to initiate a legal investigation. Instead, police officers asked the complainants to take them to the fields. When they arrived,