INDIA – Dozens of Christians flee their homes after receiving death threats
Nearly four dozen Christians belonging to six families in a tribal community in Katodi, Kanker district, were forced to flee their homes after receiving threats from Hindu radicals that they would be killed if they did not convert to Hinduism. According to local media reports, 37 people are now living as refugees in a forest in the region.
This incident is only the latest attack on Christians in the Indian state of Chattisgarh. Fr Sebastian Poomattam, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Raipur, commented that there has been a deterioration of the relationship between Hindus and Christians, who are usually the poorest families in the local community.
Fr Poomattam said that the life of Christians has become “miserable”, especially since the rise to federal power of Narendra Modi. “We have seen a sudden increase in attacks against Christians in the past two years,” he observed, stating his belief that “all attacks are organized.”
In fact, among the Christian community there is a feeling that the authorities and police deliberately ignore these incidents, not acting in good time. This could only mean that the violence against Christians has the tacit support of government authorities.
ACN Malta
