Imphal (Agenzia Fides) - In Christian churches in Manipur, believers are praying "for real reconciliation and peace", while in the north-east Indian state the tensions following the inter-ethnic violence that broke out a year ago are still felt: this is what was evident above all during the two election days for the Federal Parliament (April 19th and 26th), when the polling stations were almost completely deserted. In the last few days, the Manipur Catholic Youth Organization called for a prayer and solidarity meeting at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Imphal to mark the first anniversary of the violence that broke out in the state on May 5, 2023. The Archdiocese of Imphal has invited all the faithful of the various communities as well as all people of good will from other religious communities to a time of fasting and prayer to "achieve the conversion of hearts so that true peace may flourish in Manipur", commemorating the beginning of the violence a year ago. Since then, ongoing clashes between two ethnic communities (Meitei and Kuki) have left about 200 dead and thousands injured and caused the destruction of 200 villages and 7,000 houses, 360 Christian churches or chapels and some synagogues. Currently,

An Indian communist leader has reiterated the claim that ongoing ethnic violence against indigenous Christians in Manipur is “state-sponsored.”“It was a complete failure of the federal and state governments to check violence in Manipur that started in May last year,” said Annie Raja, a senior Communist Party of India leader at the May 10 Hindi-language premiere in New Delhi of a documentary on the troubled northeastern Indian state, bordering civil war-hit Myanmar. The pro-Hindu government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi “shrewdly carried out strategies to materialize its hidden corporate agenda,” said Raja who is contesting India’s Lok Sabha (lower house) polls from southern Kerala state.“The clashes in Manipur are state-sponsored,” she told the gathering comprising students, scholars and activists on May 10. The 23-minute documentary, “Manipur — a Blot on Indian Democracy,” was produced by journalist Anto Akkara and  had its English-language premier on May 3 on the first anniversary of the start of the violence in Manipur where Kuki tribal Christians are fighting Meitei Hindus over a court proposal to grant special tribal status to Meitei people. The move, Kuki Christians say, will help Meitei people get priority in government jobs, education, and other affirmative action programs meant for indigenous people. It will

The Indian government’s response to religious violence is “insufficient and ineffective” according to a major new report.The publication, by members of the Council of Experts advising the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) comes a year after violence began in the north-east Indian state of Manipur. More than 60,000 people have been forced from their homes and as many as 500 church buildings destroyed as religious violence continues unabated. Systematic attacks against Christian communities have resulted in over 100 deaths. The violence has disproportionately affected the Kuki and Meitei Christian communities, leaving tens of thousands without shelter, adequate food, or healthcare, and exacerbating an already volatile situation. The report says the estimated 60,000 who remain displaced, are mainly living in squalid conditions, with little access to essential services such as healthcare, sanitation, and education.The violence has also caused the destruction of vital community infrastructures like churches, which serve as community hubs, significantly disrupting normal life. The report highlights personal experiences of those who have been impacted by the clashes.Rev Dr Satkhokai Chongloi, assistant executive secretary of Kuki-Zo Christian Church Manipur Synod shared his story. He said: "All the Kuki-Zo people in Imphal were forced to flee the capital city of Manipur [as a result

India (MNN) — The U. S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)has recommendedthat India be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Its 2024 Annual Report released May 1, 2024 recommends adding five new countries to the 17 already on the CPC list. But the pushback from India against this designation has been swift and sharp. A spokesperson for the nation’s Ministry of External Affairs referred to the report as “propaganda,” and called USCIRF “a biased organization with a political agenda.” So what is going on? Tim Landis with FARMS International 

Christians in many parts of India are witnessing a significant rise in persecution as elections continue across the country. Incidents include physical assaults, arrests based on false allegations, forced ‘reconversion’ to Hinduism and attacks on Christian institutions. Priya Sharma*, a local Open Doors partner, notes that Christians are among the religious minorities who have been vocally targeted during election campaigning. “Political parties and leaders are giving hate speeches and provocative statements against each other and religious minorities,” she says. “We pray that individuals do not get carried away by the speeches of political leaders and parties, but cast their votes wisely for the betterment of the nation. And may India stand on the pillars of equality, non-discrimination and be a place of religious tolerance.” Nationwide elections started on 19 April and continue until 1 June. Sharma continues, “Incidents of persecution are reported every day. Christians are targeted all over India. There is not a single state in India that is safe for Christians. Pastors and believers are attacked, threatened and arrested on false charges, while churches and Christian institutions are attacked or forced to close down. There is continuous hatred and discrimination against the Christian community.” Central India: brutal attack and false arrest After

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The General Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC), which met in Charlotte, NC on April 30, 2024, overwhelmingly passed a resolution recognizing the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in India by the Hindu nationalist movement and calling on the US government to take action. The resolution focuses on the 2023 violence against tribal Christians in Manipur, India, where at least 120 people were killed by armed mobs operating with sanction of the state’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The UMC is the first denomination in the world to pass such a resolution. The resolution appeals to the US State Department to “designate India as a ‘country of particular concern,’ or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act.” The Rev. Scort Christy, President of the New Federation of Asian American United Methodists (NFAAUM), who introduced the petition, said, “Too often, we mourn the loss of lives after a terrible tragedy has occurred. This particular resolution is an urgent plea to proactively prevent atrocious acts of violence against Christians in India on account of their religious belief. We hope other denominations also follow UMC’s lead by passing similar resolutions.” “Religious

The BJP in Kerala sounds very inclusive. They hardly direct their ire at the Christian community. Most of their fire is aimed at the 'anti-national elements' in the Muslim community. They also work feverishly to create a wedge between both prominent minority communities through various insidious plans and often with allegations pitting one against the other. Lately, they have been busy recruiting Christians to their cadre to display their diversity credentials. Are any of these overtures genuine? Is the BJP in Kerala a wolf in sheep's clothing just to placate Christians to get a foothold in a State that so far rejected their appeasement until now? A significant attack on the Christian community in Southeastern Gujarat took place under a BJP government in 1998. That was the beginning of a series of riots and persecution of the Christian minority across India. Kandhamal, Orissa in 2008, and Manipur in 2023 witnessed major incidents of violence directed at the community. In between, there were scores of incidents of killings and incarceration of Christian leaders, barging in and disrupting church services, destruction of churches and other properties, cancellation of FCRAS, suspension of Christian charity and educational work, deportation of foreign Christian leaders from the

KOHIMA: In a distressing incident of vandalism, unidentified individuals wreaked havoc at Kinunger village, located in Mokokchung district of Nagaland, in the early hours of May 03. Situated approximately 20 kilometers from Mokokchung town of Nagaland, the village fell victim to a series of destructive acts.Reports indicate that the ordeal commenced at around 2 AM when two vacant houses were set ablaze, triggering a fire that engulfed the structures along with a nearby granary. Despite the efforts of the villagers and fire tenders, the inferno could only be subdued after causing significant damage.Thankfully, no occupants were harmed as the houses were unoccupied at the time. Later, residents were alarmed to discover smoke emanating from the main church building.Swift action from villagers averted a potential catastrophe as they managed to contain the fire before it consumed the entire church. Upon inspection, plastic bottles filled with petrol were discovered inside the church premises, pointing to deliberate sabotage.Furthermore, it came to light that the village was slated to hold a Church revival prior to the incident.Authorities have reportedly apprehended an individual in connection with the case. ondemnation from Nagaland deputy CM Expressing shock and vehement condemnation, Nagaland deputy chief minister and BJP leader Y Patton denounced the attempt to torch the Church in

In March and April 2024, India's Christian minority community faced an escalating number of attacks, disruptions of religious gatherings, and legal cases across multiple states, highlighting the continued challenges to freedom of religion in the world's largest democracy. Reports available with Christian Today India, sourced from persecution watchdog organisations and first-hand accounts point to a concerning pattern of mob violence, often allegedly involving Hindu nationalist groups, targeting Christian places of worship, and falsely accusing clergymen of illegal conversions. Several pastors and worshippers were detained by police, though many were later released without charges. In the northern state of Uttar Pradesh alone, incidents were reported in the cities of Unnao, Kaushambi, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Raebareli, Saharanpur, Maharajganj and Kanpur. On April 1, police called in a pastor in Unnao over conversion allegations before releasing him. In Kaushambi, eight people were arrested after Hindu groups disrupted a gathering, leading to charges under Uttar Pradesh's controversial anti-conversion law. The central states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also saw multiple cases. In Madhya Pradesh, the Christian community had to approach the Supreme Court of India to regain permission for a prayer meeting after it was revoked by authorities citing law and order concerns. In Chhattisgarh's Durg district, Pastor Dhalsingh Sahu

In its 2024 report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that India be designated as a “country of particular concern” due to persistent and egregious violations of religious freedoms. The recommendation came even as Kuki-Zo Christians in Manipur state solemnly marked the first anniversary of ongoing violence, which shows no signs of abating. The USCIRF’s 2024 annual report highlights a series of laws — such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, and the Citizenship Amendment Act — and governmental actions that have systematically targeted religious minorities, including Christians, under the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hindu nationalist policies. The other persecuted minorities are Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, Jews and tribals, or indigenous communities, according to the USCIRF. In early 2023, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the FCRA license of the Centre for Policy Research, impacting its operations as it scrutinized state responses to discrimination against minorities, the U.S. panel noted, adding that journalists like Teesta Setalvad were targeted for their reporting on past communal violence, particularly anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat back in 2002. Reports from NGOs tally 687 violent incidents against Christians in the past year alone, the USCIRF said in its report. Notably, in January, attacks by