Reports of physical assaults, church vandalism, disruptions of prayer meetings, and threats have surged in December, raising urgent questions about religious freedom in the world’s largest democracy
NEW DELHI – As India prepares to celebrate Christmas, the nation’s roughly 32 million Christians – about 2.3% of the population – find themselves grappling with a wave of violence, intimidation, and harassment that has marred the festive season. Reports of physical assaults, church vandalism, disruptions of prayer meetings, and threats have surged in December, prompting widespread condemnation from church leaders and raising urgent questions about religious freedom in the world’s largest democracy.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), the apex body representing the country’s Catholic community, issued a scathing statement on Tuesday, expressing “deep anguish” over an “alarming rise” in attacks targeting Christians during this sacred time. The bishops highlighted how these incidents – often involving vigilante groups accusing Christians of forced conversions – gravely undermine the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and the right to worship without fear.
“Reported attacks, particularly against peaceful carol singers and congregations gathered in churches for prayer, seriously undermine India’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and the right to live and worship without fear,” the CBCI stated. The body appealed directly to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for “strict enforcement of the law and proactive protection” to ensure Christians can celebrate Christmas in peace and security.
This surge comes against a backdrop of escalating anti-Christian incidents throughout 2025. Advocacy groups like the United Christian Forum (UCF) and Open Doors have documented hundreds of cases this year, with patterns of mob violence, false accusations under anti-conversion laws, and social boycotts intensifying around religious festivals. While exact December figures are still emerging, the concentration of disruptions during Christmas preparations has amplified fears within the community.
One of the most egregious incidents cited by the CBCI unfolded in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, where a viral video captured BJP city vice-president Anju Bhargava allegedly physically assaulting and verbally abusing a visually impaired woman during a Christmas charity event.
The gathering, held in a community hall behind Hawabagh Church between December 20 and 22, was intended as an annual charitable programme providing meals and support to differently-abled children, including the blind and deaf. Church organisers and victims insist it had no conversion agenda, a claim echoed in complaints filed with police.
In the footage, widely shared on social media, Bhargava is seen twisting the woman’s arm, grabbing her face, and shouting accusations of forced conversions in the presence of police and children. The victim, in her police complaint, described the humiliation: “My arm was twisted and my face was grabbed in front of children. I was humiliated during prayer.”
Bhargava and accompanying members of right-wing groups, including affiliates of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, alleged that visually impaired attendees were being coerced into Christianity. Bhargava later defended her actions, claiming she intervened after reports that some women were held against their will.
The CBCI condemned the act as “dehumanising” and demanded Bhargava’s immediate expulsion from the BJP. Local Christians reported a ripple of fear, with many reluctant to attend church events. “People are afraid to gather for prayer. Parents are scared to bring children to church,” said one volunteer.
Police registered complaints and examined the videos, but no arrests were reported by Tuesday evening. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, with Congress leaders calling it emblematic of “cruelty” emboldened by political patronage.
In Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, a local dispute escalated into widespread destruction on December 17-18, with mobs torching at least two churches (some reports claim three), damaging several Christian homes, and clashing with police.
The violence erupted in villages like Dumali, Kurrutola, and surrounding areas under Amabeda police station, following the burial of 70-year-old Chamraran Salam on private family land. Salam, father of local sarpanch Rajman Salam, had passed away on December 15. Villagers protested, claiming the Christian-style burial violated tribal customs, despite the land being privately owned.
Clashes injured over 20 police personnel, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police. Authorities ordered exhumation for investigation, but mobs proceeded to vandalise prayer halls and homes. A local resident recounted: “Our church was burned while we were pleading for calm. We feel unsafe in our own villages.”
The CBCI highlighted the subsequent circulation of inflammatory digital posters calling for a bandh (shutdown) against Christians on December 24, warning that such calls “create fear and invite violence.” Some locals framed the conflict as a tribal rights issue, but Christian groups argue the targeting of religious sites reveals underlying hostility.
Police deployed forces to restore order, describing the dispute as “local.” However, advocacy bodies like the Evangelical Fellowship of India noted this fits a pattern of burial-related violence in tribal areas, with 23 such incidents recorded in 2025 alone, mostly in Chhattisgarh.
Beyond these headline cases, December saw a spate of lower-intensity but pervasive incidents aimed at stifling Christmas festivities:
- In Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, groups confronted women and children dressed as Santa Claus during public carol singing, shouting accusations of proselytisation and forcing them to disperse.
- Roadside vendors in Puri, Odisha, faced threats for selling Santa hats and Christmas decorations, with videos showing men declaring India a “Hindu Rashtra” where such items are prohibited.
- In Kerala’s Palakkad district, a children’s carol group was attacked house-to-house; an RSS worker was arrested after damaging instruments and traumatising the minors. “The children were crying. They were just singing Christmas songs,” a parent said.
- Intimidation marred preparations in Kurukshetra, Haryana, with threats to halt celebrations, though no major physical violence ensued.
These events reflect broader trends. Twelve states enforce anti-conversion laws, often invoked by vigilantes to justify interventions. Rights groups allege these laws enable harassment, with accusations alone leading to arrests, boycotts, and violence.
Christian advocacy organisations paint a grim picture for 2025. The UCF documented hundreds of incidents through November, continuing a decade-long surge from fewer than 150 cases annually pre-2014 to over 800 in recent years. Open Doors ranked India 11th on its 2025 World Watch List for Christian persecution.
Church leaders note spikes around festivals like Christmas and Easter, when public celebrations draw scrutiny. Pastors report vigilante mobs disrupting services, filing complaints, or gathering crowds under conversion pretexts.
Amid the turmoil, expressions of interfaith solidarity have emerged, underscoring that threats to one minority imperil all. Muslim scholars, journalists, and leaders have voiced support, linking Christian safety to broader constitutional values.
A Hyderabad-based Muslim journalist remarked: “Targeting any minority hurts the Constitution. Today Christians are attacked; tomorrow others may face the same.” An Uttar Pradesh imam invoked Islamic teachings on respecting churches and synagogues: “Justice for Christians is justice for Muslims too.”
Student groups in Delhi and Hyderabad issued statements affirming: “India belongs to all its citizens. Faith cannot be a reason for fear.” Community organisers urged minorities to stand together, warning isolation weakens the nation’s plural fabric.
Human rights lawyers echo this: “When mobs decide who can pray and who cannot, the rule of law is weakened.”
Across India, Christians adapt to uncertainty. Churches bolster security; some cancel public events. Families in vulnerable areas relocate women and children temporarily. A Madhya Pradesh pastor said: “We only ask for equal protection under the law. Faith should not make anyone a target.”
In Chhattisgarh villages, fear lingers post-violence. Delhi students plan quiet Masses: “No loud singing, no public gathering. We just want peace.”
Yet resilience shines. A Kerala church elder vowed: “We will celebrate with faith. Fear cannot be our future.”
The CBCI pledges continued documentation and justice pursuit. As bells ring and candles light, prayers extend beyond the community – for national peace and harmony.
With no detailed government response yet to the CBCI appeal, minorities watch closely, hoping equal citizenship proves more than words.
