Victimized For Faith

The continuing attacks on Christians across several states are becoming an uncomfortable test of India’s democratic and constitutional commitments. A democracy cannot claim to protect freedom of conscience while citizens are intimidated, assaulted or humiliated because of their faith. The latest figures cannot simply be dismissed as unrelated local disputes. Their frequency raises serious questions about religious freedom and equal protection under the law. According to the United Christian Forum (UCF), 342 incidents involving violence, intimidation or harassment against Christians were reported between January and July 2026 across 22 states and union territories. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number with 73 incidents, followed by Chhattisgarh with 63. Andhra Pradesh and Haryana recorded 28 each, Karnataka 27 and Madhya Pradesh 17. UCF has also reported that incidents recorded through its monitoring system increased by more than 400 per cent between 2014 and 2025.The figures for 2025 were already disturbing. The Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission documented 747 verified incidents affecting Christians after receiving more than 915 reports. These ranged from physical assaults and threats to disruption of worship, arrests linked to allegations of conversion and interference with burial rights. These figures require some distinction. EFI’s 747 cases cover a broader range of religious-liberty violations, while UCF’s 342 cases involve violence, intimidation or harassment. Neither constitutes an official government count of physical attacks. They are figures compiled by Christian organisations monitoring religious-liberty violations. The absence of comprehensive official statistics actually strengthens the case for transparent government documentation. What is disturbing is that prayer meetings are disrupted over allegations of conversion and dismissed as a local law-and-order issue. So may the assault of a pastor or denial of burial rights to a Christian family. When hundreds of such complaints emerge across different states, uncomfortable questions arise. Are police responding impartially? Are FIRs registered promptly? Are those responsible for violence being prosecuted? Some cases are particularly troubling. EFI documented the case of Kunika Kashyap in Chhattisgarh, who was allegedly assaulted while pregnant and subsequently suffered a miscarriage. It also reported that six pastors in Bhilai were beaten inside Durg jail following their arrest after disruption of a church service. Such allegations require proper investigation, but their seriousness cannot be brushed aside. The pattern continued into 2026. Odisha pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was allegedly assaulted in January by men accusing him of involvement in religious conversion. Reports said he was beaten, garlanded with footwear and publicly humiliated. Police detained suspects and launched an investigation. Anti-conversion laws add another dimension. The laws are loaded heavily against Christian evangelism. The state certainly has a duty to investigate allegations of forced conversion, financial irregularities and other offences. Christian organisations cannot claim exemption from the law. But neither should scrutiny apply only to Christians. If a pastor is accused of an offence, investigate him. If a religious organisation breaks the law, prosecute it. However, when mobs attack worshippers, assault pastors or disrupt religious gatherings, the state must respond with equal determination. The issue is that religious freedom is not a favour extended by the majority to minorities. It is a constitutional guarantee. The state cannot enforce laws against alleged conversion while appearing hesitant when believers are assaulted or humiliated. The issue therefore goes beyond Christians. When citizens begin to fear that attending a prayer meeting, practising their religion or openly identifying with their faith could expose them to intimidation or violence, the injury is to the constitutional order itself.