50 Christians Attacked At Sunday Church Service In India
Fifty Christians were attacked during a Sunday service in Rajasthan state, western India, when a mob of approximately 200 people stormed a church in Bikaner city. Several worshippers sustained injuries after being struck with iron rods, and the assailants vandalised the property before police intervened.
The attack occurred near the end of the service on February 16. Three worshippers were severely injured, while many others suffered bruises, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a U.K.-based organisation.
The pastor of the church, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, noted that a new attendee had been present that day. This individual was seen sending messages minutes before the mob entered and fled the building just as the attack began.
The attackers quickly dispersed upon the arrival of police. However, instead of addressing the perpetrators, authorities interrogated the injured Christians and accused them of engaging in forced conversions. The pastor’s children were warned against following in their father’s footsteps.
Police escorted the pastor, his spouse, and several other Christians to the Mukta Prasad police station, where they were questioned about the mob’s allegations. No formal charges were filed against the pastor and his companions due to a lack of evidence.
Despite the violence, church members chose not to complain, fearing retaliation. Consequently, no action was taken against the attackers.
The attack took place weeks after the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2025 was introduced in the state’s legislative assembly. If passed, this law would require individuals seeking to convert to another religion to apply to a district magistrate 60 days in advance. Forced conversions would be treated as non-bailable offences, punishable by significant fines and up to ten years in prison. Additionally, the burden of proof would be shifted onto those accused of coercing conversions.
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According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, 12 of India’s 28 states currently enforce anti-conversion laws. Rajasthan’s proposed legislation aligns with a growing trend, following the 2024 amendments in Uttar Pradesh that strengthened penalties for alleged forced conversions. These laws are primarily implemented in states governed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Last December, over 400 individual Christians and 30 church organizations—including various Baptist conventions, councils, and associations—sent a letter to President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as reported by the Baptist Standard. The letter urged government intervention against violent mobs targeting Christians and other religious minorities. The signatories emphasised that believers across India have faced escalating threats and intimidation.
Data from the United Christian Forum, an India-based advocacy group, indicates a significant rise in attacks against Christian communities over the past decade. The organisation, which operates a helpline for persecuted believers, documented 127 incidents in 2014. By 2024, this number had surged to 834, illustrating the growing challenges faced by Christians in India.
The recent attack in Rajasthan underscores the vulnerability of Christian minorities in states with stringent anti-conversion laws. As religious tensions escalate, human rights advocates continue to call for stronger protections and governmental accountability to prevent further violence.
Content Credit| This article was originally published by https://www.christianpost.com/
Picture Credit | https://cjp.org.in/
