Jaipur: In yet another worrying development for India’s Christian minority, Rajasthan Police have registered a serious case against a Keralite pastor, Thomas George, for allegedly promoting religious enmity and carrying out forced religious conversions. The case, filed on July 15, includes non-bailable sections under the Indian Penal Code, sparking concerns about the increasing use of legal tools to target Christian religious workers.
Pastor Thomas George, a native of Kattappana in Kerala's Idukki district, has been living and ministering in Dausa, Rajasthan, for the past 21 years. Speaking to media, Pastor George recounted a harrowing experience in early July when right-wing groups attempted to demolish the local church while worship was in progress. According to him, members of Bajrang Dal, RSS, BJP, and Hanuman Sena stormed into the church premises during a prayer meeting.
“On July 6, around 500 activists came with a JCB to raze the church,” he stated. “It was only due to police intervention that a larger disaster was avoided.” Though the police provided temporary protection, the situation escalated when, nine days later, a formal FIR was registered against George under Sections 295A (deliberate acts to insult religion), 153A (promoting enmity between religious groups), and other non-bailable offences.
Thomas George has vehemently denied the allegations of forced conversion. “No one was ever forced to convert. People come here on their own for prayer and spiritual peace,” he explained. “The case has now made me feel unsafe in a land I’ve served for more than two decades.” George noted that his church had been attacked twice within a short span, both times during worship services.
The charges, which could result in prolonged imprisonment, are seen by many as part of a growing trend of targeting Christian communities in India, especially in tribal and rural regions where religious tensions are being politically exploited.
This incident surfaces just days after the arrest of two Keralite nuns in Chhattisgarh, who were accused of attempting to convert people during a pastoral visit. The arrest had triggered nationwide protests and condemnation from Church leaders and human rights organizations. The timing and nature of both cases suggest a coordinated pattern in which Christian missionaries and clergy are being systematically harassed, often under false accusations of conversion.
Observers have warned that such legal actions, often supported by vigilante mobs and political entities, are shrinking the space for religious freedom guaranteed under the Indian Constitution. Several civil society groups have called for independent investigations into these incidents and greater protection for religious minorities.
The rising trend of intimidation against Christians be it in the form of mob violence, administrative hurdles, or police action has cast a shadow over the lives of thousands of pastors, nuns, and believers across India. Thomas George’s case is now seen as a symbol of fear and resilience, as the Church continues to function under the cloud of suspicion and hostility.
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” George reiterated. “But now I live in fear every day. What was once my mission field has become a battlefield.” As the case proceeds, human rights activists and Church leaders are closely watching the developments, calling for transparency, legal safeguards, and justice for all those unfairly accused.