Christians in India endured severe persecution in 2024, with 640 documented cases of violence and discrimination, marking a continued rise from previous years, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC).
The figure represents an increase from 601 cases in 2023 and a nearly fourfold surge from 147 cases in 2014. This decade-long trend underscores mounting hostility toward Christians, who comprise 2.3% of India’s population.
“The systematic and organized persecution of Christians has risen to crisis levels in several states,” said Rev. Vijayesh Lal, EFI general secretary. “On average, four to five churches or pastors are attacked every day, with attacks nearly doubling on Sundays when believers gather for worship.”
The EFIRLC report, Faith at Risk: Examining Violence and Discrimination Against Christians in India (2024), identified Uttar Pradesh as the most affected state with 188 incidents, followed by Chhattisgarh (150), Rajasthan (40), Punjab (38), and Haryana (34).
“We are not asking for special treatment but for the religious freedom guarantees under the constitution to be enforced fairly,” said Lal. “All Indians must be able to practice their faith without violence and intimidation. We urge all state governments to uphold the rule of law and bring perpetrators to justice, regardless of their religious or political affiliation.”
Patterns of Persecution
In 2024, four Christians were murdered, while the EFIRLC recorded 255 incidents of threats and harassment, 129 arrests, 76 cases of physical violence, 60 gender-based attacks, 46 worship disruptions, and 41 incidents of vandalism.
January saw the highest number of incidents (71), followed by September (68), March (64), and October (62). Despite general elections in April and May, which might have prompted restraint, persecution continued with 45 cases in each of those months.
Violent Attacks and Forced Displacement
On Feb. 12, in Sukma District, Chhattisgarh, villagers threatened AaytuPodiyami’s family, demanding they renounce Christianity. When they refused, a village council issued an ultimatum. Soon after, they were brutally beaten, leaving Aaytu’s father seriously injured. The family fled, forced into a life of manual labor elsewhere.
On May 4 in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, 22-year-old Kosa Kawasi was killed in front of his wife for refusing to renounce his faith. He had earlier reported death threats to the police, but no action was taken. A mob of about 20 villagers attacked him with wooden sticks, knives, and an axe. His wife, who was also assaulted, managed to escape.
The same day, five other Christian families fled their homes fearing for their lives.
Regional Hotspots of Persecution
Uttar Pradesh: Arbitrary Arrests and Worship Disruptions
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of anti-Christian incidents, with pastors and believers frequently arrested over allegations of forced conversions. Many detentions occurred after prayer meetings and family gatherings, despite a lack of credible evidence.
On March 24 in Jamui village, Maharajganj District, extremists disrupted a Palm Sunday gathering where Pastor Shailesh Kumar was present. The mob issued threats before attacking worshippers. Pastor Kumar suffered severe head injuries and required hospitalization.
On Oct. 3 in Gaddopur village, Gonda District, four attackers stormed a prayer gathering and violently assaulted Man Singh and six other Christians. They were dragged 200 meters away and beaten. Their belongings, including a Bible and phones, were confiscated. When police arrived, they sided with the attackers, detaining the victims until midnight and warning them against holding future prayer meetings.
Chhattisgarh: Social Boycotts and Land Disputes
In Chhattisgarh, extremist groups frequently targeted tribal Christians through violence, social boycotts, and denial of resources, including burial rights, to pressure them into renouncing their faith.
In June, 32-year-old Bindu Sodi was murdered in Dantewada District over a land dispute exacerbated by religious discrimination. After she and her family converted to Christianity, relatives denied them access to ancestral property. She was killed with an axe and stones. Authorities pressured the family to bury her 19 miles away to avoid “sectarian unrest” and failed to recognize religious bias as a motive.
Punjab: Christmas Attacks
Punjab saw 38 attacks on Christians in 2024, including 11 during Christmas.
On Dec. 25 in Firozpur District, a group attacked Pastor Vijay and his congregation while they were preparing for a Christmas event.
On April 18 in Sultanwind village, Amritsar District, Pastor Gurjeet and his brother Gurdeep were assaulted by a neighbor, Avtar Singh Nihang. Nihang used a Kirpan, a ceremonial Sikh dagger, to attack Gurdeep, inflicting severe injuries. Pastor Gurjeet suffered wounds on his fingers and toes. When they sought medical care, a doctor reportedly refused to treat them.
Anti-Conversion Laws: A Tool of Harassment
The EFIRLC report highlights the misuse of anti-conversion laws as a major driver of Christian persecution.
“These laws, legally termed Freedom of Religion laws, are being weaponized to curtail the religious freedom of minority Christians,” said a Christian leader from Uttar Pradesh, speaking anonymously.
In 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government amended the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, increasing penalties and making violations non-bailable. Some offenses now carry sentences of up to life imprisonment.
A critical change allows “any person” – not just victims or their relatives – to file complaints. Hindu nationalist groups have exploited this provision to file numerous cases against Christians, fostering a climate of fear.
“There are over 60 Christians currently in jail under this law,” said the leader.
Cases of False Accusations and Police Complicity
On Dec. 27 in Fatehpur District, a mob assaulted Pastor Shivbaran Paswan, forcibly shaved his head, and paraded him through his village. Instead of protecting him, police charged him under the anti-conversion law.
On Oct. 20 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Hindu extremists disrupted Pastor Biju Mathew’s worship service and beat him. Police initially released him, but on Oct. 26, authorities arrested him under the anti-conversion law.
As of February 2025, Pastor Mathew remains in jail while his wife Rini cares for their two daughters. Within two weeks of his arrest, Hindu nationalist groups claimed they had “re-converted” 30 families from his church to Hinduism.
“These laws often shift the burden of proof onto the accused,” the EFIRLC report states, “making legal defense nearly impossible, even when allegations are baseless.”
Currently, 11 states have anti-conversion laws, with Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh moving toward stricter enforcement.
Growing Crisis and Calls for Action
By the end of 2024, 400 Christian leaders wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemning the violence against Christians and calling for immediate intervention.
“It saddens us that nearly all political leaders, including those in the Union and state governments, have remained silent,” they wrote in a Dec. 31 letter. “Rising hate speech, especially from elected officials, has emboldened acts of violence against Christians.”
The EFIRLC emphasized that its 640 verified cases likely represent only a fraction of actual incidents, as many victims fear reporting due to police inaction and intimidation.
“The climate of fear prevents many Christians from seeking justice,” Lal said. “Even when cases are filed, legal delays, wrongful imprisonments, and acquittals of perpetrators are common.”
India’s Worsening Religious Freedom Record
India ranked 11th on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult countries for Christians, a stark rise from 31st place in 2013.
Religious freedom advocates blame the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for fostering an atmosphere of hostility toward non-Hindus. Since Prime Minister Modi took office in May 2014, Hindu nationalist groups have increasingly targeted Christians with impunity.
The EFI has urged authorities to:
- Protect at-risk Christian communities
- Hold extremist groups accountable
- Prevent the misuse of anti-conversion laws
- Ensure fair legal proceedings for religious minorities
“Religious freedom is a cornerstone of India’s constitution,” Lal said. “We must uphold these values to protect every Indian, regardless of faith.”