The crimes committed against minority groups in our country are truly appalling, and it’s especially distressing to see how vulnerable Adivasi and minority Christian women are in the face of religious discrimination. In December 2022, tribal Christians in the Naranpur and Kondagaon districts of Chhattisgarh were subjected to horrific violence. The Christmas season, which is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, was marred by fear and violence in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Around 1500 to 2000 men, women, and children were forced to flee their villages, leaving behind everything they knew and loved. The women, in particular, were subjected to unimaginable trauma and abuse, with elderly and pregnant women being beaten with sticks and kicked by the mob. Despite seeking help from the police and authorities, many of their complaints went unregistered, leaving these victims without any form of protection or support.
A woman victim says, “In my village when meetings were held, I was warned not to go for Sunday prayers. On December 27, they dragged my husband there and started beating him. They kicked him as though he was a football, each player taking a turn. Six women relatives of the village leaders caught me. The men were telling them to teach me a lesson, hurling filthy abuses at me. My blouse was torn, my hair pulled, my head punched repeatedly and I was pushed to the ground. Eleven women who are believers in my village, including a teenager, faced similar torture. They said if you want to live in peace ‘ghar waapas’ (come back) to our Samaj. I said, I have done no wrong, except attending prayer meetings.”
Sr. Lalita Roshni Lakra, DSA
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