Mumbai churches seek self-declarations amid Bajrang Dal attacks, anti-conversion law

With Maharashtra’s anti-conversion law now in force, churches across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have begun asking worshippers to sign self-declaration forms stating that they attend prayers voluntarily and are not under any pressure, amid reports of attacks and disruptions by Bajrang Dal members and affiliated groups.

The forms, collected as a “self-safety” measure, will be kept at church offices and produced before government or police authorities if required, said pastor Sam Mathai from Vasai in neighbouring Palghar district.

Worshippers asked to sign forms

Mathai said churches have been collecting the forms from worshippers for the past two to three months. He claimed that 11 attacks on churches have been reported in the MMR over the past six months, particularly in Vasai-Virar, Palghar, Nalasopara and Bhayander, satellite towns adjoining Mumbai.

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“Right-wing groups enter churches without intimation and beat up people. It was then that pastors and community leaders came together to find a solution. We don't force anyone to come and pray. The Indian Constitution allows everyone to pray of their own will,” he stated.

There are over 4,000 churches in MMR. Some churches are taking forms from worshippers who are not born Christians, and some are asking even the regular worshippers to fill the forms, Mathai told PTI.

FIRs filed amid church tensions

According to an Article 14 report, at least 14 incidents were recorded in Mumbai between March 29 and August 9 in which Bajrang Dal members and affiliated groups allegedly disrupted prayer meetings, attempted to intimidate worshippers or attacked small congregations. The report said it identified these incidents through FIRs, news reports and social media videos.

Since April, police in Mumbai and Vasai have registered four FIRs against church pastors and members of their congregations, according to FIRs accessed by Article 14. Three FIRs have also been registered against Bajrang Dal members.

The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, which deals with forcible religious conversion, came into effect only on July 30, 2026. Before that, however, police booked church pastors under the state's 2013 law dealing with superstition and black magic.

The incidents followed interruptions of prayer services by Bajrang Dal members, who alleged that Hindu worshippers were being converted en masse. The subsequent complaints against the churches, however, accused them of promoting superstition through healing prayers.

Pastor rejects conversion allegations

Pastor Devdan Tribhuvan from Bhandup in Mumbai said churches have the database of regular worshippers. “We are peaceful people and never retaliate. We have decided to get a self-declaration from those who come to the church that they are coming to pray at the church,” he said.

Worshippers who come every Sunday for the prayers are worried. In the last two years, there have been attacks on churches by people who forcibly disrupt prayers to inquire about the proceedings, alleged Tribhuvan, who is the president of the Christian Development Association.

“We are just 2.3 per cent of the total population. Lakhs of students study in our educational institutes; nobody converts. Non-Christians work and study in our institutions. If the accusations were true, wouldn’t our numbers increase?” he asked.

Catholic body voices security concerns

Bombay Catholic Sabha spokesperson Dolphy D’Souza said the community is upset and anguished at the situation arising out of the passage of the Freedom of Religion Act. There have been instances of elements disturbing prayer services due to false accusations of forced conversions, he claimed.

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“This troubles us and disrupts our prayer services. Our churches are open to everyone. Many come for peace of mind and meditation. The idea of a consent form or self-declaration is to protect the interest of the community and the church. We don’t want innocent people to be victims of violence,” he said.

The self-declaration is to confirm that everyone is coming to the church of their free will, D’Souza said, adding that the community expects the police to enforce the rule of law equally for all. “We want the police to protect the community and give us safety when we do our prayer services,” he added.

(With agency inputs)