‘Enter at Own Risk’: Why Churches in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari Are Warning Non-Christians
“Worship here is exclusively for Christians; if you are not legally a Christian, you will be held personally responsible.”A board outside the Church of God stated.
By Sakshi
New Delhi, September 25: For almost a month, noticeboards have reportedly been erected outside churches in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari, warning non-Christians that they would enter the premises at their own risk.
A Hindi noticeboard outside the 116-year-old Sunderganj Mennonite Church in Dhamtari states, “Others who enter voluntarily do so at their own risk.” A similar board outside the Church of God in the city states, “Worship here is exclusively for Christians; if you are not legally a Christian, you will be held personally responsible.”
According to Diamond Philus, general secretary of the Dhamtari District Christian Forum, the boards “have been put up primarily as a precautionary measure to avoid action under the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026,” said a report by The Hindu newspaper.
The law, which was notified in August, is aimed at curbing religious conversions, according to Ministers in the BJP government.
'Draconian Provisions’
Mr Philus said the law requires anyone wishing to change their religion to provide the district administration with 60 days’ notice. He described its provisions as “draconian”, claiming that they leave room for anyone to be framed under the law.
The forum said more than 1,000 people have submitted self-declaration forms at the District Collectorate, stating that they were attending religious gatherings at churches or prayer halls “voluntarily and at their own risk”.
Mr Philus shared a copy of the declaration form, which seeks details of the applicant and the church or prayer venue. It states that attendance is voluntary and based on personal faith and freedom of conscience. Applicants are also required to confirm that there has been no force, threat, undue influence, inducement, fraud or deception, and that they are not aware of any instance of such means being used for conversion.
The forum said disruption of prayer gatherings by members of right-wing groups was another reason for putting up the boards. Mr Philus said he hoped the notices would help improve security for the Christian community.
“We are not restricting anyone, but if people want to come, they should come at their own risk,” he said, adding that disturbances during prayer gatherings and disagreements over the final rituals of the deceased have frequently been reported in Dhamtari and other parts of the State.
The issue was also raised at a meeting held at the District Collectorate on September 15, Mr Philus said. According to him, the forum was not informed that right-wing organisations would be present at the meeting.
He said members of these organisations argued that people should not be allowed inside churches until they had converted, and that government officials supported their position.
