8/12/2025 India (International Christian Concern) — Following violent attacks against 14 Christian families in a remote village in Maharashtra, India, Christians in nearby towns are gripped by fear. Some are reportedly reconsidering their Christian faith.

Anti-Christian sentiment has sharply increased in the state since a legislator belonging to the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) publicly announced a cash reward for anyone who kills a Christian attempting to convert Hindus to Christianity.  

That same day, the state’s chief minister said that legal action would be taken against members of scheduled castes who receive benefits from government programs if they convert to Christianity. The chief minister also expressed the government’s intention to enact an anti-conversion law in the state to curb conversions to Christianity.  

“I am very anxious and troubled in my heart,” a local pastor said. “There is a rumor making the rounds among villagers that the police and the village leaders are going to summon all the Christians on Aug. 15 to question them about their conversion process and to check their religious status on the government records.”  

Local Christians are suspicious of such an event, fearing it would lead Hindu nationalists to attack them.  

“Families in my congregation are quitting one by one, fearing violent attacks against them, on that particular day,” a second pastor said.  

About 20 miles away, where the pastor leads his church, a mob of Hindu nationalists brutally beat 56 Christians on July 17. The mob reportedly broke into the homes of Christian families, dragged them into the streets, and beat them with sticks and other objects. Women and children were among those assaulted. Many believers sustained lacerations and fractured bones. 

Those who survived the attack fled their village. Their belongings, including livestock, were stolen, and their homes and farmland were destroyed.  

“The attack on Christians was so violent, they couldn’t continue in their own village,” said a pastor of the victims. “I provided them food and shelter for almost 10 days. Now, after they went back to their village with the help of the police, I was banned from visiting my church members in their village. 

“They have lost everything they had, including their livelihood. Their future seems grim and dark and vulnerable, as no police action was taken against the attackers, even after repeated appeals were made.” 

In a similar scenario, a mob attempted to attack Christians on July 19 in Maharashtra. As a pastor led a prayer gathering in the home of the village’s only Christian family, bout 30 Bajrangdal activists surrounded the home, holding rods and sharpened stones. To protect themselves, the family quickly locked their door. The mob destroyed their motorbike before leaving.  

“The Christians in the state are on high alert,” a local Christian leader requesting anonymity said. “These attacks are not an isolated incident, rather part of an orchestrated, and well-designed plan, to justify the enactment of anti-conversion law in the state.” 

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