Christian leaders in Chhattisgarh have expressed serious concern after a teenage Christian boy was allegedly assaulted by a mob and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram.”
A video of the incident, reportedly from Champa district, appeared on social media on March 18. It shows the boy being slapped, held by his collar, and forced to repeat the slogan while being surrounded by a group. The video has caused outrage, with many people condemning the act as religious coercion.
Local police said they were not aware of the incident and confirmed that no official complaint had been filed at the time. Christian leaders, however, said such incidents are becoming more frequent and are creating fear among the community.
They also raised concern about a proposed amendment to the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, which aims to prevent forced religious conversions. While the government says the law is meant to protect vulnerable groups, many Christians fear it could be misused and increase pressure on minorities.
In recent months, there have been reports of attacks on Christian families in different parts of the state. Some families have been beaten, threatened, or forced to leave their homes.
Reports from groups such as the United Christian Forum indicate that many incidents targeting Christians were recorded in the state in 2024 and 2025.
Christians make up less than two percent of the state’s population. Leaders say this makes the community more vulnerable and have called for stronger action to ensure safety, peace, and protection of religious freedom.
