Three Christian churches have been demolished in Manipur’s BJP-ruled Imphal East district over alleged illegal construction on government land. Evangelical Baptist Convention Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church Manipur and Catholic Holy Spirit Church were demolished.
UCFNEI (United Christian Forum of North East India), a confederation of church leaders in northeastern states, has condemned the BJP’s move to demolish three mosques. Church leaders said the incident was shocking. UCFNEI also said that the incident of false conversion allegations against religious leaders from Meghalaya when they arrived in Bihar for Easter celebrations is also condemnable.
Authorities demolished the three mosques after the Manipur High Court quashed the standstill order against the BJP-led government’s eviction drive. It was demolished including the church built in 1974.
About 41 percent of Manipur’s population are Christians. After the demolition of the church, Christians prayed in front of the ruins of the demolished church.