On Easter Sunday, a church in Odhav, Ahmedabad, was stormed by members of Hindu nationalist groups, disrupting a peaceful prayer service.
A video showed Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) members barging into the church with weapons, including knives and sticks, and threatening women and children during the worship.
The men were heard shouting Jai Shri Ram slogans inside the church.
The Hindu nationalists accused the congregation of forced conversions, although no evidence was provided.
Despite the video going viral, Ahmedabad Police downplayed the incident, stating that VHP members “went” to the church suspecting religious conversion.
No arrests were made, and no FIRs were registered.
“VHP workers went to the location suspecting religious conversion, and the police arrived shortly afterward. The VHP workers have submitted an application at the Odhav police station regarding suspected conversion. There has been no incident of kidnapping or confinement. No violence or other untoward incident took place. Christian leaders are currently at the police station and have not made any formal complaint,” Ahmedabad Police said in a post on X responding to the viral video.
