'They Threatened to Kill Us': Christian Family & School Attacked in Chhattisgarh

VHP-Bajrang Dal goons disrupted a Sunday prayer and physically attacked Pastor Jose's family.

Pastor Jose was arrested on charges of religious conversion. This is not the first time his family has been targeted.

(Photo: Vibhushita Singh/The Quint)

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Joshua Jose Thomas (22) never thought a Sunday church service in his hometown, Kawardha in Chhattisgarh would take such an untoward turn.

Over a week ago, Bajrang Dal members, colluding with Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) disrupted a Sunday prayer service on allegations of illegal conversions and assaulted Joshua's family. But the local police, instead, arrested his father, who is a pastor.

Joshua's family — his father, Jose Thomas (56) mother, Liji Thomas (46) and two younger brothers, Joel Thomas (19) and Joseph Thomas (18) — are Malayali Christians who shifted from Kerala to Kawardha in Kabirdham district around 35 years ago. Joshua and his siblings were born and raised here.

This is not the first time their family has been harassed, alleged Joshua, who is at present residing in another city.

At 11:30 am on Sunday, 18 May, VHP and Bajrang Dal assailants barged into the Indian Missionary Church in Adarsh Nagar with some local journalists. Videos accessed by The Quint show them shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' and attacking the attendees and Joshua's family in the presence of the police, who could barely hold them back.

"For the past 35 years, my family has been facing intimidation and persecution from the state machinery," Joshua told The Quint.

What led to this? The Quint takes a closer look.

VHP-Bajrang Dal members attacked Pastor Jose's family and locals.

(Photo: Screenshot from the video)

Pastor Cleared of Conversion Charges in the Past

Pastor Jose Thomas has been working in Kawardha for the past 35 years. He established the Holy Kingdom English Higher Secondary School in 1999 — the district's first English-medium CBSE school. The school has around 600 students enrolled.

Interestingly, during the term of former chief minister, BJP's Raman Singh in 2010, Pastor Jose found himself embroiled in a similar case when "forceful conversion" charges were levelled against him by Sangh-affiliated organisations like VHP and Bajrang Dal.

He was jailed for 10 days on these charges. In 2014, a local court acquitted him due to lack of evidence in cases registered under the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act and Indian Penal Code.

The court order wherein it was stated that Pastor Jose was found not guilty in the past.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

Joshua also stated that the Income Tax department has frozen their school's bank accounts, which the parents of the students paid fees to.

Pastor Jose and his family at The Holy Kingdom English Higher Secondary School.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

From Fee Issues to Religious Conversion Charges

Joshua explained that there have been several cases of fees arrears remaining unpaid at their school. Some students have not paid their fees for one or two years.

It is in this context that on 29 April, Pastor Jose claims to have received a call from BJP district President Rajendra Chandravanshi, who threatened to get his school shut unless they issued a Temporary Clearance (TC) certificate for the children of Sushil Shinde, a local.

Pastor Jose explained that a TC could not be issued as fee payments were overdue.

As per Joshua, a police official had also asked the Pastor why the TC was not issued. The pastor submitted a letter to the SP's office on 2 May, explaining that they had two-year fee arrears.

Four days later, Bajrang Dal head Sagar Sahu, Shinde, and some VHP and ABVP members demanded that the school's licence be cancelled and made allegations of "religious conversion."

"Nephew of Sagar Sahu (Bajrang Dal) is also studying in our school. Our school brought education directly and indirectly to every family in Kawardha. Almost every doctor, engineer from Kawardha was from our school," Joshua claimed.

Sagar Sahu of Bajrang Dal could be seen attacking and assaulting Joshua's family.

(Photo: Screenshot from the video)

The family received threats that the "fake conversion theory" will be spread among the public and that it would be very difficult for them to continue living in the area.

Joshua's mother, Liji visited the DM's office regarding the matter and they gave in to the demand for waiving fees and granting the TC.

"These right-wing groups wanted chaos and escalation. Hence, they came up with this narrative of religious conversion," said Joshua.

The Day of The Attack

Around 20 locals had gathered to worship at Adarsh Nagar church on Sunday. Pastor Jose said this has been a custom for the past three decades.

Both Joshua's testimony and the videos accessed by The Quint from 18 May, show that Hindutva groups abused and assaulted the people present.

The main accused are Saurav Singh, Sagar Sahu, Rakesh Sahu, Rakesh Yadav, Harsh Yadav and Eklavya Thakur.

Joshua's younger brother Joel told him, "They held my neck to beat me. Joseph came in between and they hit him. The girls present at the service were terrified and hid in the bathroom."

Speaking with the media, Additional SP Pushpender Singh Baghel said, "Some members of VHP and Bajrang Dal group had complained that in Adarsh Nagar, people were being wrongly converted. On their complaint, the police reached this place. Around 20-25 people had come for the prayer and we are questioning them. There was an argument between them but it has been resolved."

Pastor Jose has also explained their ordeal in a video on YouTube in Hindi and in Malayalam on Instagram.

Since one week, my family has been running here and there to take shelter and save ourselves. A completely false narrative has been spread about me and my family. They want to get my school closed.

Pastor Jose Thomas in the video

The police also allegedly took the CCTV and the DVR recordings of the day of the attack. Joshua said that the family and the congregation members were taken to the police station. He alleged that the people who had attended the event were being coerced into changing their statements that they came out of their free will.

Joshua's family told him that inside the police station, one of the accused who hit his mother on the head and face said, "I'll chop you into pieces, I'll burn your family if we see you in Kawardha." Pastor Jose also mentioned these alleged remarks in his video.

Meanwhile, a local Ambedkarite organisation, Mulnivasi, intervened. The congregation was discharged around 9 PM from the police station that day.

But when Pastor Jose tried to register a complaint, Joshua alleged that the police put forth a condition: "Don't mention any assault on your wife and sons".

"My father told them, 'In the presence of media and police, you stormed into a private space where we were worshipping silently and we were assaulted, how can I not mention it?'" Joshua said.

Joshua recalled that his family was then taken in a car, accompanied by a female constable. The mob surrounded them. The constable apparently told them they were being taken for medical tests and hence, they were able to leave the scene.

The next day, the police visited the family and told Pastor Jose to accompany them to their cyber cell on the pretext of examining the CCTV footage, Pastor Jose also confirmed this in his statement.

Joshua said the family turned on the tracker on their father's mobile. But after a while, his phone was unreachable. Jose claims that the police allegedly took his mobile phone as well.

The family claims that the police made him sign multiple papers and informed him that he has been arrested on the basis of an FIR but they didn't give him the details of the case.

Family Continues to Face Threats

Joshua stated that the family is now afraid that their mother and brothers would also be arrested. Liji, along with her sons have managed to go to an undisclosed location.

On 19 May, Pastor Jose was presented in the local district court. Then he got bail and his mobile was given back.

The district court judge granted him bail and this angered the right-wing groups more. A mob of 80-100 men gathered outside court with the intention to kill him. By the grace of God, he was able to hide in the car and escape.

Joshua Thomas told The Quint

Later, when their lawyer tried to get an anticipatory bail for their mother, he was also threatened and chased away by the Hindutva mobs who surrounded the police and court, Joshua alleged.

"The Hindutva groups have threatened to kill us and warned us to leave the town, shut down our school. They have also made it impossible to seek legal or police help," stated Joshua.

On 26 May, Joshua said that his parents decided not to hide anymore and have reached a safe place. The Quint is choosing to not disclose their location.

The family even tried to file the FIR online but there was a technical issue. They have now sent the complaint via courier. They will proceed with legal action if their complaint is not accepted. The Quint has seen a copy of this complaint.

"Accusations of forced religious conversion are being fabricated and spread, inciting communal violence and public hatred against us. The atmosphere in the city is one of fear; no one dares to stand with us or against these goons and their organisation," alleged Joshua.

(The Quint also reached out to the Superintendent of Police of Kabirdham district and his office. Their response will be added once received)