Indian bishop slams Christian persecution in eastern Jharkhand state
Six families forced to flee village in Latehar district, while nine families face social boycott in Kodarma district
Updated: May 05, 2025 12:22 PM GMT
Church leaders in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand have deplored the continuing persecution of tribal Christians in the state by “anti-social groups” with the backing of some political parties.
“These anti-social groups are certainly backed by bigger forces, including political parties; else how can they take the law into their hands?” said Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas of Daltonganj.
The prelate said a sustained campaign is underway against the work done by the Christian missionaries for the welfare of the tribal people in Jharkhand.
“Religious conversion is alleged very often nowadays with no basis or proof by some anti-social elements who do not want peace to prevail in the state,” Mascarenhas told UCA News on May 2.
He referred to the latest incident of six Christian families in his diocese who were forced to abandon their homes and flee, fearing for their lives.
These Christian families from Hata village in Latehar district were threatened by a pro-Hindu group for refusing to donate money for Sarhul, a spring festival celebrated in early April by various tribal groups in Jharkhand.
The six families left the village on April 28, reported the local ETV Bharat news channel.
The report quoted Nageswar Oraon, one of the Christians who is now living with his family in a neighboring village, saying that “since we had no money, we expressed inability to pay for the festival.”
“We were threatened and attacked by some villagers because we are Christians,” he added.
Oraon said the six Christian families had embraced the Christian faith some 15 years ago after his wife and relatives were cured through prayer by a pastor from neighboring Bihar state.
On April 25, nine Christian families were excommunicated by villagers for practicing the Christian faith in Chatra village in Kodarma district.
Excommunication by citing tribal customary laws often involves a social boycott and denial of livelihood means, access to water, food, and other essentials in the villages.
The converted families could only be accepted back if they returned to the tribal Hindu fold.
Local media reports said Chatra has 40 families, nine of which had embraced Christianity over a decade ago. The rest of the villagers have cut off all social contact with the Christians.
Rajesh Bhuia, a Christian from Chatra, told media people that they had converted to Christianity “without any force and greed some 10 years ago.”
The local authorities on April 26 ordered an inquiry to find if the conversion was voluntary or due to some pressure or allurement.
Megha Bharadwaj, the local administration officer, told media people that “the matter of social boycott will also be investigated.”
Ratan Tirkey, a former member of the Jharkhand state government’s tribal advisory committee, said the campaign against the Christian missionaries has intensified in the past few years.
“Missionaries are being blamed for interfering in the language, traditions and culture of the tribal people,” the Catholic tribal leader said.
An anti-conversion law passed in Jharkhand in 2017 stipulates that religious conversion by force or allurement shall be punishable with three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 rupees (US$593).
If anyone wishes to convert, they need to inform the top district official of the reasons and the place of conversion or face prosecution.
More severe punishments can be imposed for using force to convert minors and women, as well as members of tribal minorities and lower castes.
Hindu nationalists often accuse Christians of using force and surreptitious tactics in pursuing conversions, often storming into villages and leading “reconversion” ceremonies in which Christians are compelled to perform Hindu rituals.
Jharkhand has 1.4 million Christians, mainly tribal people, out of a population of 33 million.
