With 486 Registered Cases Of Violence, 2021 Ends As “Most Violent Year” For Christians In India: UCF

A report published by the United Christian Forum (UCF) found a steady year-on-year increase in violence against the Christian community in India with authenticated complaints revealing more than one and a half incidents a day, totalling nearly 500 in 2021, as reported with UCF toll-free helpline number. 

In the last two months of 2021, November and December witnessed over one hundred (104) incidents. Month-wise Number of incidents: January-37, February-20, March-27, April-27, May-15, June-27, July-33, August-50, September-69, October-77, November-56 and December-48.  

“The atmosphere of hatred spread by certain actions and speeches by certain groups and the false propaganda of fraudulent and allurement means of conversion including enactment of laws in the name of freedom of religion seems to be encouraging the anti-social elements to do so,” the report stated, adding that “it will not be exaggerating if it is said that these incidents are well-orchestrated and pre-planned acts by certain vested groups to divide the country on the basis of religion.

The report says that violence against Christians has been increasing sharply since 2014 with 127 incidents in 2014, 142 in 2015, 226 in 2016, 248 in 2017, 292 in 2018,  328 in 2019, 2020 in 279, and 486 incidents as of 30th December 2021. 

According to the report, four North Indian states- Uttar Pradesh (102), Chhattisgarh (90), Jharkhand (44) and Madhya Pradesh (38) have recorded 274 incidents of violence against Christians. Karnataka has recorded 59 incidents.

However, only 34 FIRs could only be registered against violent perpetrators. 

“In almost all incidents reported across India, vigilante mobs composed of religious extremists have been seen to either barge into a prayer gathering or round up individuals that they believe 

Are involved in forcible religious conversions. Often communal sloganeering is witnessed outside police stations, where the police stand as mute spectators,” the report states.   

“This violence against the Christian community is compounded by the failure of the police to investigate and prosecute mobs and perpetrators. This is despite a slew of directions to the government from the Supreme Court of India led by then CJI Dipak Misra to stop the horrendous acts of mobocracy,” it adds.