Hindu Groups Try to Barge Into Church in India's Haryana, Alleging Religious Conversion

Since September, India has recorded a rise in attacks on churches in many states and territories, including Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. In October, a report titled 'Christians under attack in India' claimed that over 300 incidents of "violence by Hindutva groups" had been reported from across 21 states in the preceding nine months.

Several members of some Hindu organisations tried to enter a church in Rohtak District of India's Haryana State, claiming that forcible religious conversions were being performed there.

However, when police reached the place it found no evidence of the alleged religious conversions.

"Police have conducted the probe and found nothing like that (religious conversions)," Deputy Commissioner Captain Manoj Kumar told reporters.

"For around six years, people have been holding prayer meetings at the church on Sundays and Thursdays," Kumar added.

Asst Pastor of the Church says, "People come here out of devotion, just like any other place of worship. We never forced anyone to come here. Last evening SHO came & told us of a complaint. We gave all our info to the chowki incharge. SHO then came & inspected the situation here" pic.twitter.com/254zEzzTiI

— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021

Meanwhile, many media reports suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Haryana state is now considering implementing a law against religious conversion.

The BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh already have implemented laws to stop forcible religious conversion, whereas Karnataka state will adopt it in the upcoming assembly session starting from 13 December.

The offence of illegal conversion under all three states' laws is non-bailable, which means an arrest can be made without a warrant, and bail is granted only at the judge's discretion.