New Delhi, February 19, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Members of Christian community have staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against attacks on churches, violence and arrests in different parts of India including New Delhi. A protester Poonam, who came from Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh, said, “We have come to Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters”.

“We are being accused of forcibly converting people to Christianity. Churches are being attacked, our people are being beaten up and arrested. The community members are living in a constant state of panic,” another protester, Steven from Uttar Pradesh, told media men.

He said that India saw “525 cases of atrocities against the members of the community in 2021 and 600 cases in 2022”. “In Uttar Pradesh state, the number of such cases increased from 70 in 2020 to 183 in 2022,” he added.

Shivpal from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh said that the state police have been arresting people over allegations of forced conversions. “We are not even allowed to pray in our houses. Some 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 added. “Churches are being attacked and our community members harassed in all over Indian states including Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and many other states. Cases are being filed against them on the basis of false charges.

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