Raipur church stormed by VHP, Bajrang Dal; worshippers assaulted
Members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal forced their way into a church in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on 10 August, alleging that the Christian community was engaged in forced conversions.
The Hindu nationalist groups vandalised the premises, physically assaulted attendees, and recited the Hanuman Chalisa inside the church, leaving worshippers in panic.
Footage circulating online captures the tense clash between Hindutva activists and members of the Christian community, with police personnel visibly struggling to control the situation.
Chhattisgarh has long witnessed friction around matters of religion and caste. A significant number of Dalits and Adivasis have turned to Christianity over time in search of relief from entrenched caste-based oppression. Yet, the state has also repeatedly seen attacks against Christians by Hindu right-wing organisations.
This incident is part of a broader pattern. On 26 July, two Catholic nuns from Kerala were taken into custody by state police following accusations by Hindutva groups of human trafficking and conversions, though they were later granted bail. Prior to that, in May, VHP and Bajrang Dal workers stormed a Sunday service, chanting “Jai Shri Ram” while roughing up congregants.
The assault in Raipur has once again unsettled the Christian community, underlining the increasing atmosphere of intimidation and violence linked to ongoing false allegations of forced conversions.
