Nirmala Carvalho

A convent where a chapel and cemetery are under constructions was the object of an intimidatory raid. Although Catholic nuns have all the necessary permits issued by the previous state government, Hindu extremists are demanding the immediate demolition of both chapel and cemetery. With the BJP's victory in the state elections, attacks and intimidation against Christians are up.

The Kumey River in Arunachal Pradesh submerged many buildings in Parsi Parlo parish, severely damaging the rectory, convent, and school. For Bishop Benny Varghese, “The Word is life- it withstands every trial and continues to bring hope, even in the darkest moments.” Rescue and recovery operations are underway.

An alleged fraud estimated at 11.6 billion rupees has been uncovered in Madhya Pradesh, linked to a government programme that encourages the production of ethanol to blend with petrol. But the case also reopens the debate on the appropriateness of using grains for biofuels while millions of Indians depend on food aid.

Thousands of people took to the streets to demand the postponement of the 2027 census until the National Register of Citizens is updated. For the majority Meitei, this is a tool against illegal immigration from Myanmar, while for the Kuki-Zo minority, it risks becoming a means of political and social exclusion. The ethnic conflict that broke out in 2023 remains unresolved, exacerbated by competition for land and cross-border routes.

In Chhattisgarh, the wave of intolerance in villages against those who refuse to renounce their Christian faith shows no sign of abating. The police are accused of collusion. Meanwhile, there have been further acts of intimidation in West Bengal too: four separate incidents took place last Sunday in the densely populated eastern Indian state, including an attack on a church under construction in Subhashgram.

From Ukraine, Sister Ligy Payyappilly, a nun from Kerala, shares her account of a journey to the areas closest to the front line of the war with Russia. “We have been alongside people for whom the war is not just news but a daily struggle for survival. The challenge is to give children living here a chance.”

In recent weeks, in the district of Narayanpur, a series of measures have targeted Christian families with the aim of forcing them to take part in tribal religious rituals. The Archbishop of Raipur to AsiaNews: “These actions are funded by those with a self-serving political agenda. Let us pray that God may open their hearts.”

The Bishops’ Conference has called for a day of action tomorrow, a Sunday, against the new FCRA licensing regulations which, in the name of “national security”, are stifling Christian schools, hospitals and welfare organisations. Cardinal Poola: “We serve the poor to live out the Gospel”. Thousands of licences have already been revoked in recent years.

Across the Indian state, thousands of people took part in the celebrations, diving into wells, ponds and watercourses in a symbolic ritual that recalls the biblical episode in which St John the Baptist leapt for joy in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth. A festival deeply cherished by the Catholic community, it coincides with the start of the monsoon season.

The victims were young people attending a 3D graphics class offered by an animation studio. The building had been subject to a demolition order in 2016 due to serious flaws, which was later revoked. Bishop Gerald Mathias sent his “heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families”, urging the authorities to take “appropriate measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.”

Controversy and outrage mount across the country over the latest femicide committed within the family. Fuelling the controversy is the fact that it occurred under the eyes of police officers who were supposed to protect the victim. Activists blame the killing on a mix of patriarchy, caste, and failure to enforce the law in Uttar Pradesh.

Just the day after the release of the Kuki hostages, the discovery of a new massacre has further inflamed the conflict between the two ethnic groups. Among the victims were two Christian pastors. Protests have erupted around the Imphal mortuary where the bodies were taken, with militants calling for the ceasefire to be suspended. The archbishop emeritous Lumon tells AsiaNews: “There are historical wounds, but violence is never the way to heal them”