India sees rising violence against Christians, rights groups say

On a humid Sunday afternoon in July last year, a small gathering of Christians inside a modest home in India’s Uttar Pradesh state was interrupted by a mob, highlighting what rights groups describe as a growing pattern of attacks against religious minorities.

"At least 50 to 60 people associated with a Hindu right-wing organization came when people were receiving a religious message," said Jaynendra (name changed), the pastor leading the prayer. What followed, he said, was chaos. The mob "created a ruckus and closed the prayer hall," Jaynendra told DW.

The gathering, held inside his home in Shahjahanpur district, was part of a house church tradition common among small Christian communities in northern India. However, such meetings have increasingly drawn scrutiny from Hindu right-wing groups who accuse participants of forced conversions.

Christians make up just over 2% of India’s population, compared to around 79% Hindus and over 14% Muslims, according to the 2011 census. Rights groups say violence against Christians has risen sharply in recent years, with nearly 900 incidents reported across several states in 2025 alone, according to Christian Solidarity International.

Following the Uttar Pradesh incident, Jaynendra said police detained worshippers rather than attackers.

"The police took around 10 to 11 people to the police station and detained them," he said. "They kept my family and others the whole day." Among those detained was a 13-year-old girl.

"The police questioned them and found out that they had no money or pressure to attend the gathering. Everyone came here to pray with their own will," he said. "But still they kept them."

Jaynendra was later arrested under Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law and spent more than four months in jail.

"There was no evidence against me," he said. "But there was a lot of pressure." The case remains ongoing.

Similar incidents have been reported elsewhere. In Madhya Pradesh, Vinay Patil (name changed) described an attack on his congregation during a Sunday service.

"About 35 to 40 people came," he said. "They were young boys. They started talking in abusive language and said that 'you are doing forced conversions here.'" He added, "They started beating people. Women, children, everyone," and said injuries were severe before police arrived.

Rights advocates say such cases reflect a broader trend since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014. Michael Williams of the United Christian Forum said,

"What you can see now, which we could not see earlier, is that the people who are doing these crimes have no fear on their faces," and added, "They are stopping in broad daylight, in public spaces, with no fear. This is a growing trend."

Activists argue anti-conversion laws contribute to the climate. Human rights defender John Dayal said, "The actors involved have consistently stayed the same," and added, "But when the BJP is in control, there is a sense of impunity."

Police conduct has also been criticised. AC Michael of the United Christian Forum said, "They have no fear of law because they have protection behind them,” and added, "In so many places, no action has been taken."

For many Christians, fear now shapes daily life. In some cases, children have stopped attending school, and families say they have been displaced after attacks. Despite this, community leaders say they intend to continue their religious activities, even as tensions persist and legal cases remain unresolved.

By Sabina Mammadli