Rise in attacks on Christians in India, 720 attacks in 2023 alone, reveals UCF data

Alappuzha: In an alarming revelation, a report compiled by a human rights group revealed that Christians in the country faced an average of two attacks per day last year. 

The United Christian Forum (UCF), a Delhi-based human rights group, revealed the atrocities based on incidents reported on their helpline number. According to the report, Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of cases of violence against Christians, followed by Jharkhand and Haryana. Notably, no such incident was reported in Kerala.

Initially, the group released the report of various episodes of violence up to November 2023. Later, they prepared a separate list after collecting reports of violence during the Christmas period. 

UCF launched its toll-free number on January 19, 2015, to learn about the violence targetting Christians in the country. The forum also verifies the authenticity of the reports before recording them same.

As per the data published by the UCF, there were 687 attacks on Christians till November 2023. Of these, 531 cases are concentrated in four states. 

The state-wise distribution of attacks is UP (287), Chhattisgarh (148), Jharkhand (49), Haryana (47), Madhya Pradesh (35), Karnataka (21), Punjab (18), Bihar (14), Gujrat (8), Tamil Nadu (8), Jammu and Kashmir (8), Rajasthan (7), Orissa (7), Delhi (6), Maharashtra (6), Uttarakhand (4), Bengal (4), Himachal Pradesh (4), Assam (2) and one case each in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Chandigarh and Daman and Diu. 

According to the report, five pastors were arrested on December 25 for offering prayers and celebrating Christmas in Delhi. On the same day, three persons were arrested in Uttar Pradesh, a funeral in Chhattisgarh was disrupted, and pastors came under attack in Karnataka and Punjab. A church was attacked in Andhra Pradesh. 

The study focuses on various occurrences involving breaking into places of worship and attacking Christians alleging proselytising (forced conversion). Additionally, UCF claims that 175 people were killed and around 1000 injured in riot-hit Manipur. UCF estimates that 254 churches have been destroyed during the same period in the state.