On May 27, 2026, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, a militant wing linked to the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), stormed a two-day Christian spiritual convention held at a privately owned hotel in the city of Ratlam, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The groups alleged that the event was intended to forcibly convert Hindus to Christianity. Although the organizers had notified police authorities in advance, officers, under pressure from the large crowd of protesters who arrived at the venue, decided to detain 15 members of the organizing committee, citing a lack of proper permits for the event.
The attack in Ratlam is only the latest episode in a documented escalation of anti-Christian violence in India. In February 2026, in the state of Maharashtra, a mob of Hindu radicals violently ambushed a congregation of 20 Christians on false allegations of conversion. Pastor Raj Uday was seriously injured in the attack. In January, a series of attacks swept through several Indian cities. Al Jazeera reported in January 2026 that hatred toward Christians in India had reached unprecedented levels since the BJP came to power nationally.
The escalation of violence against Christians in India is taking place against a backdrop of increasingly restrictive anti-conversion laws in BJP-governed states, criminalizing evangelistic activities deemed to "induce" or "entice" people to Christianity. In 2026, the USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom) published a report denouncing systematic attacks on religious minorities in India, with Christians among the most vulnerable groups. Pastoral and Indigenous communities are particular targets of radical groups.
Pray for the 15 organizers detained in Ratlam and for Pastor Raj Uday, who is still recovering from the assault in Maharashtra, asking for healing and courage to continue in ministry. Intercede so that India's anti-conversion laws will not silence Christian witness, and that God will raise up lawyers and advocates to protect religious freedom. Pray that Indian Christian leaders will receive wisdom to navigate this environment of growing pressure, and that persecution will lead to greater visibility and growth for the Church across the nation.
