India villagers demand probe into 40 churches over conversion claims

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Hundreds of villagers in India’s central state of Chhattisgarh have demanded an investigation into more than 40 churches over claims of illegal construction and religious conversions, raising concerns about potential scrutiny of Christian communities amid growing religious tensions in the country.

Residents representing 18 villages in Kawardha district approached local authorities on Tuesday alleging that economically disadvantaged Indigenous people were being offered financial and other incentives to convert to Christianity.

The delegation included members of the Baiga Indigenous community, representatives of other social groups and local elected officials from the forested Pandariya and Bodla areas.

They submitted a memorandum addressed to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, demanding administrative intervention and investigations into religious activities they claimed were affecting traditional Indigenous beliefs and cultural practices.

The villagers alleged that Christian conversion activities were taking place across several settlements and called on authorities to identify individuals involved in offering inducements to members of tribal communities.

However, the allegations presented in the memorandum have not been independently substantiated, and no evidence establishing forced or fraudulent conversions was provided in the available account.

A central demand concerned more than 40 churches and Christian prayer facilities that the delegation claimed had been constructed on government-owned land.

The representatives urged authorities to investigate the ownership and legal status of the land and take action against any structures found to violate applicable regulations.

The delegation also demanded scrutiny of government employees who had obtained employment through reservations for Scheduled Tribes, India’s constitutionally recognized Indigenous communities, and subsequently converted to Christianity.

They sought investigations into whether such employees had violated eligibility requirements for reservation benefits, along with legal action wherever wrongdoing was established.

The demands come amid broader concerns over religious freedom in India, where Christian communities have faced increasing hostility, disruptions of worship services and accusations of unlawful conversions from Hindu nationalist organizations.

Religious conversion allegations have frequently been used to justify intimidation and attacks against Christian pastors, worshippers and churches, particularly in rural and Indigenous-majority regions.

Chhattisgarh is among Indian states with laws regulating religious conversions, including provisions targeting conversions obtained through force, fraud or inducement. Christian organizations and religious freedom advocates have raised concerns that such laws can be misused to harass minority communities and interfere with voluntary religious practices.