334 verified cases of targeted attacks against Christians in India between Jan–July 2025: Report
New Delhi: Between January and July 2025, 334 verified incidents of targeted violence against Christians were reported across 22 states and union territories, according to a new report by the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFIRLC). The group has flagged a consistent pattern of attacks, with Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh alone accounting for over half of the documented cases.
Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 95 incidents, followed by Chhattisgarh with 86. EFIRLC noted that these two BJP-ruled states have emerged as the main hotspots for anti-Christian violence, where victims not only face immediate physical attacks but also prolonged legal harassment under anti-conversion laws. The report points to the widespread misuse of these laws, with two-thirds of all cases involving threats, false accusations, or legal intimidation.
Among the most serious incidents is the arrest of two Catholic nuns, Vanada Francis and Preeta Mary, in Chhattisgarh. They were allegedly attacked by Bajrang Dal members for ‘forcible conversion’ and subsequently jailed. They were granted bail only recently by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court.
The report documents 13 cases involving the denial of burial rights, 92% of which occurred in Chhattisgarh. It states that Christian families were blocked from performing last rites even on private property. Most attacks were timed to coincide with Sunday worship services, which EFIRLC sees as evidence of systematic monitoring and disruption of religious gatherings.
In one case from Bhilai, six pastors were detained and allegedly beaten with wooden batons inside Durg jail for simply identifying themselves as pastors during a routine inquiry. Despite medical evidence of custodial torture, the pastors still face charges while no action has been taken against jail staff.
Other states with notable numbers include Madhya Pradesh (22 cases), Bihar (17), Karnataka (17), Rajasthan (15), and Haryana (15).
EFIRLC said the 334 incidents likely reflect only a fraction of the total attacks, citing underreporting due to fear of reprisal, intimidation by local authorities, and lack of access to documentation. It warned of a “coordinated effort to suppress Christian religious expression” through both legal means and social pressure.
The Commission collects data via direct victim reports, partner networks, media monitoring, and official sources, verifying each case through police records, medical documents, witness statements, and photographic evidence.
In January, the United Christian Forum had recorded 834 attacks on Christians in 2024, 100 more than in 2023. In March 2025, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom designated India as a “Country of Particular Concern” for attacks on religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s contradictory strategies have drawn attention, with its state units in north and central India pushing aggressive anti-conversion campaigns, while party leaders in Kerala attempt to court the Christian vote ahead of the upcoming state elections. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrashekhar recently met with the two jailed nuns after their release, a move widely viewed as political outreach.
The destruction of over 300 churches during the 2023 Manipur violence also continues to draw criticism, casting a long shadow over the party's attempts to gain ground among Christian voters in southern states.
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
