NEW DELHI: Members of the Christian community on Sunday held a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, expressing their worries about reported cases of “church attacks, violence, and arrests” in different parts of the country.”We are facing accusations of forcibly converting people to Christianity. This has resulted in a series of violent attacks on churches and physical assaults, as well as the arrest of group members. As a result, there is a prevailing sense of fear and insecurity among the community,” Steven from Uttar Pradesh said. He claimed that the country saw “525 cases of atrocities against the members of the community in 2021 and 600 cases in 2022”. “In Uttar Pradesh, the number of such cases increased from 70 in 2020 to 183 in 2022,” he claimed. Shivpal from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh alleged that the state police has been arresting people over allegations of forced conversions. “We are not even allowed to pray in our houses. A few women were arrested for offering prayers during a birthday celebration,” he said. One of the FIRs filed against the members of the community names an 11-year-old and a person who died in 2010, Steven alleged. “Churches are being attacked and our community members harassed in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and many other states. Cases are being filed against them on the basis of false charges. We have come here to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters,” Poonam, who came from Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh, said.(With inputs from PTI)
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/christians-gather-at-jantar-mantar-in-delhi-to-protest-against-attacks-on-churches/articleshow/98063452.cms
