Authorities have arrested two individuals, and further investigations are ongoing
NEW DELHI — A teenage Christian boy was assaulted by members of a Hindu group in Champa in Chhattisgarh earlier this week. The attackers reportedly filmed the incident and circulated the video on social media.
A clip purportedly shows the Hindutva men forcing the Christian boy to chant the Hindu slogan of “Jai Shri Ram”. Hindus often invoke the popular god Ram’s name as a greeting but in recent years, Hindu lynch mobs have turned Ram’s name into a murder cry.
Following the incident, local people protested, leading to police intervention. Authorities have arrested two individuals, and further investigations are ongoing, media reports reaching here said on Wednesday.
Police reportedly recovered religious books from the scene.
This incident occurred amidst a backdrop of rising reports of violence against Christians in Chhattisgarh. Similar recent reports include:
In Narayanpur in January, two Christian families were allegedly beaten and forced to leave their homes over allegations of religious conversion.
Last May, a Christian family running a school in Kawardha was attacked by a mob during a Sunday service and forced into hiding. Similarly, in Dantewada 14 Christians were reportedly attacked i with wooden rods after refusing to renounce their faith.
There are reports of other incidents where Christian homes have been targeted, and they have been told to renounce their faith.
