- 25 September, 2026
DHAMTARI, Chhattisgarh, September 25, 2026: At least eight churches in Dhamtari city have restricted entry to non-Christians for prayer services, citing concerns over the safety of worshippers amid continuing disputes over allegations of religious conversion.
Notices displayed outside the churches state that worship is restricted to Christians and that people of other faiths who enter voluntarily would be responsible for their own actions.
One such notice has been put up outside the 116-year-old Sunderganj Mennonite Church. It says that, under the church management’s rules, entry into the church building for worship is restricted to Christians, while others who enter voluntarily would be responsible for doing so.
The Dhamtari District Christian Forum said the notices were introduced as a precaution following incidents of alleged disruption at Christian prayer meetings and growing controversy over claims of religious conversion.
Diamond Filus, general secretary of the Dhamtari District Christian Forum, told PTI that the decision was taken earlier in September and implemented more strictly following a September 15 meeting at the district Collectorate involving representatives of Hindu organisations, the Sarva Adivasi Samaj and the Christian Forum.
According to Filus, Christian representatives were invited to the meeting by officials without being informed that representatives of Hindu organisations would also attend. He claimed that Hindu representatives objected to non-Christians attending church services and argued that those who had not converted to Christianity should not be allowed inside churches.
Filus further alleged that some officials present at the meeting supported the demand. These claims have not been independently confirmed by the district administration.
The Forum said previous instances of alleged disruption of Christian prayer meetings over conversion accusations had prompted the community to take precautionary measures.
Anti-conversion law adds to concerns
The developments come after the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 was notified in August. The new law has heightened concerns among Christian groups about prayer meetings attended by people from other faiths.
The Christian Forum said more than 1,000 people had submitted self-declaration forms at the district Collectorate stating that they attended religious meetings at churches or prayer halls voluntarily and on their own responsibility.
According to the Forum, the declarations state that participation was voluntary and not the result of force, threat, undue influence, inducement, fraud or deception.
The Forum has subsequently asked churches and prayer meeting centres elsewhere in the district to display similar notices.
Christian representatives said the measure is intended as a precaution to prevent disputes and protect worshippers, rather than to prevent people from exercising their freedom of religion.
Administration keeps distance
The district administration has so far maintained limited public comment on the issue.
Dhamtari Additional Collector Indira Singh Dehari said she was not authorised to comment. A district administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the matter had been resolved but declined to provide details.
The restrictions come amid continuing tensions in Dhamtari over allegations of religious conversion at prayer meetings and disputes involving members of the Christian community. The developments have brought renewed attention to questions surrounding voluntary religious participation, freedom of worship and the implementation of the state's new anti-conversion law.
Courtesy : India Today
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