In a remote village in central India, Christian families faced brutal persecution for their faith in Christ. On April 24, 2025, in Durandarbha village, Sukma District, Chhattisgarh state, tribal villagers attacked 10 Christian families, driving them from their homes and threatening their lives.
The assailants, followers of tribal religion, gathered about 60 strong, armed with wooden sticks. They surrounded the Christians during a summoned meeting, demanding they renounce their faith in Jesus. When the families stood firm, the mob turned violent, showing no mercy to women, children, or the elderly. “They beat us ruthlessly,” said Hirma Markam, a Christian aiding the displaced.
The attackers raided homes, seizing and burning Bibles, Christian posters, and vital documents like ration cards and Aadhaar cards. One Christian, Padaam Hidma, who supports five dependents, lost critical identity papers in the blaze. The mob chased the families into the hills and forests, where they scattered to escape. “We fled for our lives,” said Kunjam Bechem, one of the expelled. “Some hid in the hills, others in the forest.”
The 45 displaced Christians spent the night in the open before reuniting at a church in Chintalnar, 11 miles away. On April 28, two women sent to check the village’s mood returned terrified, reporting threats of death if the families returned as Christians. “Leave Jesus Christ, or don’t come back,” the villagers warned. Days later, one Christian’s home was burned down, with the culprits still unidentified but suspected to be villagers.
One family, including three children, remained in Durandarbha under house arrest. The father and a minor son were severely beaten, unable to escape. “The violence was indiscriminate,” Hirma Markam said. “They spared no one.”
The Christians reported the assault to Jagargunda police on April 25, receiving medical examinations the next day. Three minors, nine women, and six men bore injuries from the attack. Police issued verbal warnings to the attackers but made no arrests, advising the Christians to avoid returning until tensions eased. A complaint filed with the local collectorate also yielded no action.
Now sheltered in a makeshift church, the families face new struggles. Recent rains exposed leaks in the church’s hay-and-wood roof, leaving them vulnerable. “It’s hard to stay dry and safe,” Hirma Markam said.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. On April 12, seven Christian families were expelled from Karigundam village, 21 miles away, after refusing to abandon their faith during a council meeting with 2,000 attendees. Authorities intervened only after social media attention, warning village leaders of legal consequences.
Sukma District, with its dense forests and 85% tribal population, has India’s lowest literacy rate at 29%. Persecution of Christians has surged in India, ranked 11th on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List for severe Christian persecution, down from 31st in 2013. Many attribute this to rising Hindu nationalism since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise in 2014.
Yet the Christians remain steadfast. “Jesus healed us and gave us peace,” one woman told her attackers, according to Bechem. “Now you question our faith.” Their courage shines as a testament to their trust in Him, even in the face of violence and loss.
