More violence in Chhattisgarh: 40 Hindu radicals attack a Christian community
by Nirmala Carvalho
The attack took place in Bastar district, home to an ongoing systematic persecution of the minority. Extremists often invoke the anti-conversion law to attack Christians. President of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC): "We demand the immediate end of violence."

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - "We demand the immediate arrest of the Hindu radicals responsible for the brutal and unprovoked attack against 12 innocent Christians", made ​​on October 25 in Chhattisgarh. This is Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) demand of State Authorities, following yet another assault dictated by false accusations of forced conversions.

The attack took place in the village Madota in the district of Bastar, where in recent months there have been numerous incidents of anti-Christian persecution. On the 26th a small group of believers had scheduled a meeting with officials of the local administration. Together they were to discuss a High Court appeal by Christian groups in the area of Bilaspur against the ban on Christian missionaries issued in some villages of the district.

The district officials and the superintendent of police did not show up. Instead, about 40 activists of the Bajrang Dal (youth wing of the radical Hindu movement of the Sangh Parivar) appeared. They attacked the Christians present with sticks and knives, accusing them of practicing forced conversions.

"Despite the name - Sajan George told AsiaNews - Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act 1968 is an anti-conversion law, which is repeatedly exploited by groups of Hindu fanatics to arrest and imprison Christians, on trumped up charges".