Chhattisgarh: Communal tensions erupted across two Chhattisgarh districts over the weekend as Christian prayer meetings triggered confrontations with Hindu organizations, leading to arrests, protests, and prolonged standoffs at police stations.
Religion Conversion sparks row in Chhattisgarh
In Bilaspur’s Sipat area, approximately 300 Christians had assembled for a community prayer meeting when Hindu organizations staged demonstrations outside the venue, alleging illegal religious conversions were taking place. The Sipat police subsequently registered cases against seven Christian community members, igniting widespread anger among the Christian population.
The arrests prompted hundreds of Christians to surround the police station, demanding withdrawal of charges against their community members. Simultaneously, Hindu organizations also besieged the same facility, insisting on strict action against the accused. Both groups maintained their protests for nearly 10 hours, creating a volatile atmosphere throughout the city.
Durg Violence Escalates – Here’s what happened:
Similar tensions materialized in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district, where Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Hindu Jagran Manch activists surrounded a local church during a prayer meeting held in a residential area near Bafna Mangalam on Jail Road.
The situation deteriorated when a Christian community member identified as “John” allegedly verbally abused Bajrang Dal workers, triggering violent clashes. Eyewitness accounts and video evidence show John being beaten with sticks before police intervention and his subsequent arrest.
John’s detention further inflamed communal tensions, prompting large numbers of Christians to march to the police station while raising slogans. Police relocated both parties to Pur village police station on the city’s outskirts to file complaints, though heated arguments persisted even there. The arrival of Bhim Army activists from Raipur further escalated the situation.
Official Response and Demands
Jyoti Sharma of a right-wing organization alleged John had a history of similar incidents and receives foreign funding, demanding his expulsion from the district and investigation of his bank details. The group threatened agitation if their demands weren’t met.
Durg Additional Superintendent of Police Sukhnandan Rathore confirmed prior knowledge of the prayer gathering. “On reaching the spot, people of Bajrang Dal and the Christian community were found fighting with each other, due to which a law-and-order situation arose. Both parties have now been counselled, and the investigation is ongoing,” he stated.
Christian leaders rejected conversion allegations, with one stating: “The definition of conversion is not clear; neither the government nor the administration has an answer to it. All this is just a fabricated story. We are ready to hold prayer meetings in the open. We are a Christian community preaching the message of love. People join us freely because of love. Those who join us are giving up addiction and improving their social status, which is a positive change.”
