In Karnataka, while discussions were underway about a controversial anti-conversion law, a Catholic priest was attacked with a machete in the Belagavi district. In addition, three Pentecostal preachers had their religious books confiscated and publicly burned in Kolar.
The first incident took place on the afternoon of Saturday, December 11 when an unidentified man armed with a machete entered the Parish Church of Saint Joseph the Worker, where Father Francis D'Souza served as parish priest, and slashed him. rush.
The priest was able to dodge the attack and escape, while the attacker eventually left the scene. The church's security camera recorded the incident. Father D'Souza then filed a police report.
Two days later, on Monday, December 13, in Kolar district, some Hindu nationalist activists stopped three Pentecostal preachers, accusing them of promoting conversion. They took their religious books and burned them.
Police took no action, saying the Christian community had been alerted. For their part, the Hindu nationalists claimed that they "did not commit any acts of violence," but merely reacted to "the people who distribute Christian books in our neighborhood." .
Sajan K George, president of the Indian Council of Christians, told AsiaNews. “In the last 12 months, we have recorded 38 attacks against Christians in Karnataka”
"Right-wing nationalist leaders create these situations, denying religious freedom to India's small Christian community," he explained.
Under the guidance of Archbishop Peter Machado of the Catholic Archdiocese of Bangalore, Christians took to the streets to protest to demand the repeal of the anti-conversion law that the state government wants to pass.
Other anti-Christian incidents have been reported recently in other parts of India, most notably in Madhya Pradesh. In Barwani state, the Barwani district police arrested a couple on charges of "seducing" tribal women with the aim of converting them to Christianity.
Anar Singh Jamre, 35, and his wife Laxmi Jamre, 32, live in the village of Nawalpura. They were arrested on the basis of Madhya Pradesh's anti-conversion law, which was tightened just a few months ago.
This action was taken based on a complaint from a villager. Both were later released on bail.