Kawardha, India — A Christian family running a school in Chhattisgarh’s Kawardha is now in hiding after a violent attack on May 18, during which a group of approximately 100 members from local Hindutva organizations stormed their premises. The incident took place amid a Sunday church service, generating widespread concern and raising questions about police inaction and political complicity.
Videos of the attack reveal members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) verbally assaulting school staff and congregants while accusing them of forced religious conversions, an allegation the attackers have not substantiated. The assailants reportedly disrupted the service, storming into prayer rooms, threatening attendees—including women and minors—and causing panic among those seeking refuge in nearby washrooms.
Pastor Jose Thomas, who has dedicated over 35 years to serving the Kawardha community as the principal of Holy Kingdom English Higher Secondary School, believes that this incident is not isolated. His son, Joshua, described a history of harassment towards their family, asserting that they have been targeted due to their Christian identity and that recent violence escalated amid a backdrop of indifference from local authorities. “We’ve worshipped here for decades; now we’re being treated like criminals,” he said.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that police were present during the attack but failed to intervene. Reports indicate that law enforcement officers attempted to pressure congregants into altering their statements to back the conversion claims while confiscating key evidence, including CCTV footage from the incident. The family’s experiences highlight what they describe as a pattern of intimidation and legal obstruction centered on their religious practices.
Just a day after the assault, Pastor Jose was arrested on ambiguous charges. He was allegedly lured to the police station under the pretext of discussing CCTV footage, only to find himself detained. After securing bail, he fled Kawardha in fear of further violence. Joshua noted that despite their pleas, local police have refused to accept their formal complaints against the attackers, a denial he attributes to “government pressure” from political figures purportedly protecting the assailants.
Tensions escalated leading up to the attack, reportedly sparked by a conflict over tuition fees. Allegations emerged that a local BJP leader attempted to secure a transfer certificate for a supporter’s child while bypassing standard protocols and accrued fees. Following this incident, the family claims they faced harassment and demands for financial compensation to suppress rumors of conversion.
Pastor Jose’s family is no stranger to persecution. They have faced previous attacks, including an incident in 2010 when he was wrongfully jailed, and another in 2022 where parts of the school were damaged by a mob. Compounding their struggles, government actions have included freezing their bank accounts, which they allege is part of a broader political strategy to force them out of Kawardha.
The fallout from the recent violence has prompted widespread fear within the local community, leading many churches to remain closed. Joshua expressed concerns that even potential allies are now distancing themselves, adding, “People are afraid. Everyone’s just waiting for things to cool down.”
Calls for accountability have quickly followed the events of May 18, yet so far, there has been little action from authorities. As community members await the justice they seek, the Thomas family’s ordeal exemplifies a growing unease among religious minorities in the region, raising pressing questions about safety and the rule of law in Chhattisgarh.