Mumbai interfaith leaders urge police to curb attacks on Christian prayer gatherings as concerns grow over threats and disruptions.
Newsroom (03/07/2026 Gaudium Press )An interfaith coalition of religious and civil society leaders in Mumbai has appealed to the city’s top police officials to take immediate measures against a growing number of attacks and disruptions targeting Christian prayer gatherings.
The delegation, operating under the banner “Mumbai for Peace,” submitted a memorandum on July 2 to Mumbai’s Commissioner of Police and the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), expressing concern over what members described as an increasing pattern of intimidation and harassment directed at Christian communities.
The group consisted of 24 representatives from Christian, Muslim, Jain, and Hindu communities, highlighting the broad-based nature of the appeal. Among them was Jesuit priest and rights activist Father Frazer Mascarenhas, former principal of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
According to Mascarenhas, the delegation briefed police officials on a series of recent incidents involving disruptions of Christian prayer gatherings in a city traditionally regarded as a symbol of religious diversity, harmony, and tolerance.
Police Assure Action to Maintain Order
Following the meeting, Joint Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Sharma reportedly assured the delegation that authorities would take necessary steps to preserve law and order.
Mascarenhas said concerns have been escalating since last year, with threats against Christian prayer groups and pastors steadily increasing. Complaints have already been lodged against individuals accused of organizing or participating in attacks on Christian gatherings.
“The threat to Christian prayer groups and their pastors has been building up since last year and complaints have been filed against the attackers,” he said.
Threats Ahead of Planned Christian Assembly
A key concern raised in the memorandum involved an alleged threat to disrupt a Christian prayer assembly scheduled for July 5 in the Gamdevi area of Mumbai’s Vakola suburb.
Dolphy D’ Souza, spokesperson for the Bombay Catholic Sabha, said the delegation submitted a copy of a pamphlet reportedly issued by Sakal Hindu Samaj (All Hindu Society) threatening the event.
According to D’Souza, the threat was linked to two right-wing Hindu organizations, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, as reported by the Mumbai-based Free Press Journal.
He described the situation as deeply troubling, warning that open threats of violence and intimidation must be addressed before tensions escalate further.
“There is an open threat of violence and intimidation against the Christian community which should be nipped in the bud,” D’Souza said.
Multiple Incidents Reported Across Mumbai
Christian organizations have documented what they describe as a growing pattern of disruptions. D’Souza stated that at least eight incidents involving interference in Christian prayer meetings were recorded across Mumbai during June alone.
The memorandum submitted to the police reportedly included the names of at least eight individuals alleged to have participated in such disruptions in different parts of the city.
Among those named was Ankit Yadav, identified in the document as a Hindu right-wing activist. He was accused of leading attacks against Christian gatherings while making allegations of religious conversion activities and black magic.
Christian representatives maintain that such accusations are false and are being used to justify harassment of worshippers.
Allegations of Inadequate Police Response
The delegation also raised concerns about what it sees as insufficient police action following previous incidents.
D’Souza specifically referred to an attack on a Christian gathering in Vasai, near Mumbai, on June 12. He alleged that Yadav and his supporters assaulted Christians attending the event.
While police later registered a case, D’Souza claimed that no arrests were made, prompting concerns within the Christian community about accountability and deterrence.
The issue of police response formed a significant part of the memorandum, with activists urging authorities to act more decisively against individuals accused of disrupting religious gatherings.
Concerns Over Mumbai’s Social Fabric
Members of the delegation argued that the recent incidents pose a broader challenge to Mumbai’s long-standing reputation for communal coexistence.
Irfan Engineer, founder-trustee of the Mumbai-based Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, alleged that radical Hindu groups are increasingly influencing the city’s social environment.
He argued that such organizations are targeting minority communities, particularly Christians and Muslims, while benefiting from political support that enables them to expand their influence.
Engineer further claimed that militant-style groups associated with cow protection campaigns have contributed to tensions involving minority communities in various parts of India.
Growing Call for Religious Harmony
The intervention by Mumbai for Peace reflects rising concerns among civil society groups about protecting religious freedom and maintaining communal harmony in India’s financial capital.
By bringing together leaders from multiple faiths, the delegation sought to frame the issue not only as a concern for Christians but as a challenge to Mumbai’s broader tradition of pluralism and peaceful coexistence.
The memorandum urges law enforcement authorities to take preventive action against threats, ensure the safety of religious gatherings, and uphold the rule of law regardless of religious affiliation. As concerns grow over reported disruptions and intimidation, community leaders say decisive action will be crucial in preserving trust and social harmony across the city.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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