Faith at Risk: Alarming Rise in Violence Against Christians in India Continues in 2024
PRESS RELEASE
March 10, 2025
NEW DELHI – The Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC) today released its annual report documenting an unprecedented surge in violence and discrimination against Christians across India in 2024. While over 840 incidents were reported, the commission was able to verify 640 cases, reflecting a significant increase from 601 cases in 2023 and nearly quadruple the 147 incidents recorded a decade ago in 2014.
“The scale and intensity of persecution against Christians in India has reached crisis levels,” said Rev. Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India. “On average, four to five churches and pastors face attacks daily, with incidents nearly doubling every Sunday.”
The report identifies Uttar Pradesh (188 incidents), Chhattisgarh (150), Rajasthan (40), Punjab (38), and Haryana (34) as the states with the highest concentration of violence. Notably, Punjab and Rajasthan have emerged as new hotspots of religious persecution.
Patterns of Persecution
Christians across India face multiple forms of persecution, including:
- Physical assaults on pastors and worshippers
- Disruption of prayer meetings and church services
- Vandalism of church properties
- Social boycotts and denial of community resources
- Arbitrary arrests under anti-conversion laws
- Economic deprivation and forced displacement
The report highlights how anti-conversion laws, ostensibly designed to prevent forced conversions, are being systematically misused to target Christian communities. In numerous cases, pastors conducting routine prayer services were arrested and charged with “forced conversion” without evidence.
Disturbing Case Studies
In Khaga, Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Pastor Shivbharan was beaten, forcibly shaved, and paraded through his village on December 27. Instead of receiving protection, he was charged under the state’s anti-conversion law.
In Punjab’s Jalandhar district, Pastor Bhagwan Singh was attacked while conducting a prayer service on January 23. He succumbed to severe head injuries on February 19, 2024.
In Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, Christian families who refused to participate in a “reconversion” meeting were violently beaten and threatened with expulsion from their villages.
Justice Remains Elusive
The EFIRLC notes that victims often face significant barriers to justice. Many are afraid to file complaints due to fear of police inaction or retaliation. Even when cases are registered, they frequently result in delays, acquittals, or wrongful imprisonment of victims instead of perpetrators.
“Even with 840 reported incidents, of which we were able to verify 640, these numbers likely represent only a fraction of the actual incidents, as many go unreported due to intimidation and fear,” Rev. Lal added. “Limited capacity for investigation in remote areas and reluctance of victims to come forward due to threats further constrain our ability to document the full scope of the crisis.”
Call to Action
The Evangelical Fellowship of India is calling on the Indian government to:
- Provide immediate police protection for Christian communities facing imminent threats
- Hold extremist groups accountable for instigating and perpetrating violence
- Reform the implementation of anti-conversion laws to prevent their misuse
- Strengthen legal safeguards for victims of religious persecution
- Ensure fair and unbiased legal proceedings in cases involving religious minorities
About EFIRLC
The Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFIRLC) has been documenting incidents of persecution against Christians in India since 1998, working to promote religious freedom and advocate for the rights of religious minorities.
Contact:
For more information, please contact: mail@efirlc.org
Click HERE to download the report.