MP: Church set ablaze in Naradapuram, “Ram” inscribed on internal wall 

Attacks on churches in Madhya Pradesh go unabated. In a fresh incident, a group of unidentified people set ablaze a church in Naradapuram and scrawled Ram on the wall of the prayer hall, police said on Monday.

Locals said that they found burnt furniture inside, walls blackened with smoke from the fire, and ‘Ram’ written on the wall inside the prayer hall of the church in Chauki Pura village in Sukhtawa block of the district. A complaint was filed under Indian Penal Code Section 295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) against unidentified accused.

The vandals broke inside the place of worship, which was established around five years ago and is located 40 kilometres from the tribial-dominated district headquarters, according to an initial inquiry, said Gurukaran Singh, the superintendent of police in Narmadapuram.

An official said, citing a complaint related to the incident, that the fire also destroyed certain Holy Scriptures and other belongings, including furniture.

The police said that there are no tensions in the Chaukipura area. An Article 14 assessment revealed that Christians in MP are largely targeted in areas with visible Christian symbols and institutions, such as churches, statues, prayers, and healthcare and education services. Most attacks are driven by allegations of conversion.

The Hindu right wing groups, including Bajrang Dal, ostensibly often justify the attacks on churches as the latter, according to them, have been involved in conversion drive. They allege that missionaries are engaged in luring poor tribal people for conversions.

In past, several attacks against churches happened in Madhya Pradesh with full impunity. Various reports have stated that the attacks on minorities, mainly Muslims and Christians, have increased manifold ever since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India in 2024

Idol placed in Muslim’s house

Tension erupted in the state Khandwa city on Monday after a Hanuman idol has been installed in a Muslim man’s house. The police used force to disperse both sides, which was met with stone pelting, injuring four police personnel, according to NDTV. Three cases under different sections of the IPC pertaining to house-trespassing, attempt to murder, and rioting were filed. Five men have been detained so far. The main accused in the incident is a self-styled Hindu leader, Ravi Awhad.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM