More than a month after Hindu nationalist groups in India targeted two Christian congregations on Easter, the churches remain shut while awaiting police action, sources said.
The Hindu extremists intimidated congregation members and leaders at both churches in the western coastal state of Gujarat, and one of the churches was ransacked and its pastors assaulted, sources said. Three other churches were attacked in the state, two on Easter Sunday (April 20) and another the following Sunday, according to unconfirmed reports.
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“They [Hindu groups] knew Easter is a big day for us; our churches have maximum attendance, so they intentionally chose Easter Day to disrupt our special’ services,” said pastor Dinesh Parmar of Western India Pentecostal Church in Ahmedabad and Gujarat President of the All India Christian Federation.
About 25 members of the Hindu extremist Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, youth wing of VHP, stormed into the private hall of Pastor Parmar’s church in the Odhav area of Ahmedabad during the Easter service, wielding wooden sticks and chanting Hindu slogans, he said.
With about 125 Christians in attendance for the service scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Hindu nationalists intruded at 11 a.m., accusing the pastor of forced conversions, Pastor Parmar said. Using derogatory language, they began interrogating congregation members, demanding proof of identity, inquiring about their names and checking their religion.
Striking the walls, pulpit and pillars with wooden sticks, they questioned why people of Hindu background were gathered for the church service, Pastor Parmar said.
“The Christians witnessed that they believe in Jesus, and that they have experienced the power of prayer in their lives,” he told Morning Star News.
World Watch
Christian support organization Open Doors ranks India 11th on its 2025 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. India stood at 31st place in 2013 but has steadily fallen in the rankings since Narendra Modi came to power as prime minister.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally published by Morning Star News.
