More than 200 incidents of violence against Christians reported in India, according to data compiled by advocacy group, New Delhi-based Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) – India.

According to ADF-India, 218 incidents in 243 days of 2019, 159 mob violence incidents and 27 incidents a month were recorded. Since the beginning of this year, the reported incidents of violence against Christians have been reported on United Christian Forum (UCF) toll-free helpline number. “Modus operandi followed in all 159 cases of mob violence are the same. A mob accompanied by the police arrives at the prayer service, shouts slogans and beats up the members of the congregation including women and children. Then the pastors are arrested or detained by the police under the false allegation of conversion,” A C Michael, development director for ADF- India, said in a press statement.

According to him, in some cases, friendly media is taken along to ensure publication of their side of story. What’s more important to notice is that till today none of these false allegations have ever been sustained in a court of law. In fact, almost all of the arrested pastors have either been released on bail or acquitted as the police or the unruly crowd has failed to provide evidence of forceful conversions.

“It will not be exaggeration if it is stated that many Christians are experiencing restrictions of their freedom to practice their faith in one way or the other in a large part of India’s territory that is 23 states out of 28 states of India,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh leads the chart with 51 incidents followed by 41 in Tamil Nadu, 24 in Chhattisgarh, 17 in Jharkhand, 16 in Karnataka, 14 in Telangana, 12 in Andhra Pradesh, 9 in Maharashtra, 6 in Haryana, 5 in Bihar, 4 in Delhi, 3 in Odisha, 2 each in Himachal Pradesh,