Chhattisgarh: Christians attacked, forced to leave their villages

A week after the attacks on Christian community in Narayanpur district last week allegedly by Hindu right wing groups, a slew of Christian bodies demanded action against the offenders.

Realizing the cold response of the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh government, they staged a sit-in protest in front of the district collector’s office in Narayanpur on Tuesday. The demonstrators said the protest outside the collectorate would continue until the authorities heed to their complaint and lodge an FIR.

Scores of people, including women and children, belonging from several villages of Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts joined the protest. “We have been sitting in the open in front of the collectorate amid winter chill since Sunday evening, but no one paid attention to our grievances. We will not end the demonstration till FIRs are lodged for the incidents of atrocities,” said a protester, according to PTI.

They alleged that goons associated with Hindutva groups vandalised their properties of poor Christians in a village and drove them out of their homes. The documents accessed by it records 20 attacks on Sunday, December 18, alone; 21 separate incidents throughout December, barring December 18 violence; 15 in November; and three in the month of October, reported The Wire. 50 Christians were beaten up and driven out of their homes in Bastar’s Cherang.

The growing attacks on Christian Adivasis in the state took an ugly turn on December 18 after 500 people from 19 villages in Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts have been forcefully evicted from their houses allegedly by Hindu right wing, who for the last few months, have been reportedly trying to forcefully convert them to Hinduism in the name of Gharwapsi, reported Outlook.

According to the complaints, Christians were physically attacked in Bhatpal, Modenga, Gohda and Borwand.

“The leaders of the villages incite others to threaten us, abuse us, and physically assault us by destroying and stealing our crops and produce. There were also calls for a social boycott, accusing Christians of occult activities,” read the complaint. According to sources, the application named 26 people including Narayanpur BJP district president Rupsai Salam, Benur BJP district president Fuldhar Kachlam, Zila panchayat member Ratan Salam and RSS functionary Mangaru Ram. However no action has been taken yet.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM