International Christian Concern) – According to the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN), radical Hindu nationalists have stepped up their anti-Christian activities across India. This has resulted in a greater number of attacks on Christians and their places of worship.
On Sunday, November 28, members of the Bajrang Dal vandalized a newly inaugurated church in Delhi. According to UCAN, the church was holding its first Sunday service when the Bajrang Dal showed up to disrupt the service.
Police were called to the scene; however, local Christians claim the police did little to protect the church. Instead, the police detained one of the attackers for about an hour and let him go after questioning.
The Quint, a news website, quoted a police official saying, “We received information at 9:30 a.m. on November 28 that a quarrel had broken out at Matiala Road and on inquiry it was found that a group of residents and local miscreants had vandalized the board that read ‘church’.”
Following the incident, police registered complaints against both the Bajrang Dal and members of the church. UCAN reports the complaint against the Christians was made for violating the Delhi Disaster Management Act which prohibits large gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In another incident, members of the Bajrang Dal disrupted another prayer service in India’s Karnataka state. In this incident, Bajrang Dal activists forced themselves into a Christian prayer hall in Belur and forced the Christians out of the building.
In both incidents, the Bajrang Dal activists used false allegations of forced conversion to justify their illegal actions. Police often overlook crimes committing against Christians, such as assaults and harassment, when assailants claim they were acting against illegal conversion activities.
Across India attacks on Christians and their places of worship are being reported in greater number and severity. According to a report released by the United Christian Forum, over 300 incidents of Christian persecution have been documented in India in just the first nine month of 2021.
This story first appeared on persecution.org