The U.K.-based publication Christian Today quotes research as saying attacks on Christians have increased in the last twenty years because local Christian mission groups have been helping the poor people – Dalits and Tribals – with social needs. The research shows these groups have been empowered by Christians through the gospel, education and social support, and have become the objects of attack by radical Hindu groups.

India has been independent from Great Britain since 1947. The Indian constitution states that the nation is a secular republic that guarantees freedom of religion.

An estimated 2.5 percent of India’s population of 1.2 billion is Christian.

Barnabas Aid reports that although the constitution of India guarantees religious freedom for all citizens, radical Hindu fundamentalists have been targeting Christians.

Barnabas Aid cites a report put together by the Mumbai-based Catholic-Secular Forum (CSF), compiled in collaboration with other Christian organizations, including the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), Global Council of India Christians and All India Christian Council.

According to this report, an estimated 4,000 Christians in India were targeted in acts of violence in 2013. The report documents 200 major incidents, including seven murders.

The report says most of the violence was carried out by Hindu extremists. It adds over 1,000 women and around 500 children were targeted. According to the report more than 400 church and community leaders were targeted and there were an estimated 100 attacks on churches or worship meetings.

The report also documents 200 major incidents of violence against Christians, including murder, rape and assault.

CSF says many times police fail to act on reports of violence and there is no media coverage. CSF officials also add victims are sometimes too afraid to come forward.

Many parts of India observe a caste-system, and Dalits are considered by many Indians to be the lower classes, sometimes referred to as “untouchables.” CSF says many Christian Dalits face persecution and are denied certain economic, educational and social benefits granted to Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist Dalits. CSF says in some cases Muslims also face this type of discrimination.

The Christian Post reports a constitutional change passed in 1950 grants special rights to Dalit (low caste) Hindus but does not cover the Dalits who converted to Christianity and Islam to escape the age-old caste conversion.

The Constitution provides for affirmative action in government jobs, parliament and state assemblies, and educational institutions, as well as other benefits. However, the Presidential Order of 1950 assumes that non-Hindu religions do not have a caste hierarchy, and as a result, do not need special protection.

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