The converted families from Sukma District have been left in the forest without shelter, food, or water
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Six Christian families were evicted from their homes in a village in the Sukma District of Chhattisgarh for refusing to renounce their Christian faith. The families converted to Christianity seven years ago but faced increasing pressure from the community to return to Hinduism.
The village council, led by the Sarpanch, at a weekend (April 12) meeting decided the fate of the 13 families who had converted. Six families refused to renounce their faith, leading to their expulsion from the village, media reports reaching here said on Tuesday.
The families were forced to leave their homes with a terse warning: Live as Hindus or leave the village. Their belongings were loaded onto a tractor-trailer and dumped in a nearby forest. Left without shelter, food, or water, the families now face severe hardship in the forest.
Christian leaders have condemned the eviction, calling it a violation of human rights, and are urging authorities to intervene to protect the rights of the affected families.
The incident is part of a larger pattern of violence and intimidation against Christians in the country.
According to human rights organisations, violence against Christians in India has been on the rise since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014. The Sangh Parivar, a group of right-wing Hindu organisations, has been accused of inciting violence against Christians in the country.
The latest incident comes amid ongoing tensions in the state, with both the ruling BJP and Congress accusing each other of encouraging illegal religious conversions. While both parties have made claims regarding religious conversions, they have not provided evidence to support these allegations. In the past, such claims have led to attacks on Christians by Hindu extremists.
The persecution of Christians in India has drawn international attention. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has placed India in Tier 1 for minority persecution, alongside countries like China, North Korea, and Pakistan. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the violence and urged authorities to take action.
The eviction of the six families in Sukma District is a stark reminder of the growing persecution of Christians. The government must take concrete steps to protect the rights of minorities and ensure that those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice.
