Three members of a Christian family in Gufanpal village, Sukma district, in India’s Chhattisgarh State, were violently attacked by other villagers on account of their beliefs on 12 February.
Tensions arose in Gufanpal at around 8am on 6 February when Ayatu Ram Podiyami, 35, was approached by a group of around 20 people who asked him if he would convert back to Hinduism. When Mr Podiyami refused to do so, a large mob of approximately 250 people began to gather outside his house and pressured him to renounce his Christian faith, prompting him to flee into the jungle.
Upon his return to his home a few hours later, Mr Podiyami’s family informed him that they had been given them an ultimatum to convert to Hinduism by 12 February or face consequences. Mr Podiyami called the police and asked them to intervene, however he was told that similar incidents had been reported all over the region and that their hands were tied.
On 7 February, Mr Podiyami went to the Tongpal police station to file a complaint. He told them about the incident and the threats against his family and again asked the police to intervene. This prompted the authorities to summon some of the village leaders to the police station on 9 February, however their efforts to diffuse the tensions were unsuccessful.
On the morning of 12 February Mr Podiyami received a call from one of the village leaders named Ram Singh, who instructed him to stay at home and told him that they would be coming to talk to him. Three people came to his house and asked Mr Podiyami again if he was ready to renounce his faith. When he refused once again, the group began to hit him with rods and he fell to the floor. His mother and brother pulled him away, at which point the assailants proceeded to assault Mr Podiyami’s father Mahngu Ram Podiyami.
The mob quickly grew larger, and again Mr Podiyami was forced to flee into the jungle. When he returned after a few hours he saw his father lying unconscious on the floor and immediately took him and his brother to the government hospital in Sukma district. All three men were admitted to the hospital and are still recovering. Mr Podiyami’s father suffered a head injury and was in critical condition, but has since recovered to a point that there are no longer fears for his life.
Mr Podiyami filed another complaint in the Tongpal police station with the help of a legal professional on 12 February, however the police intentionally fabricated details in the First Information Report, which is required to open an investigation, claiming that the dispute was a ‘family feud’ and that the victims received their injuries by accident.
CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘CSW condemns this attack on Mr Podiyami and his family, who should be free to practice any religion or belief of their choosing without fear of threats or physical violence. We are also disappointed that the authorities do not seem to have treated this case with the seriousness it deserves, and we insist that a full investigation bringing all those responsible for this shocking attack to justice remains an utmost priority.’
Note to Editors:
- Ayatu Ram Podiyami and his family converted to Christianity in 2020.
- Gufanpal village comes under Tongpal police administration.