Brij Lal, a converted Christian, says his community does not hold Sunday prayers for fear of violence. Last December, Narayanpur, about 250 km from state capital of Raipur, had become the epicentre of violence between tribals and converted Christians or vishwasis (believers), which had a ripple effect in neighbouring Kondagaon, Antagarh and Chitrakote areas.
Tribal-Christian tensions in the Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh have become a key issue ahead of the state s elections on 7 November. Several seats in the Bastar region, including Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Keshkal, Antagarh and Chitrakot, are expected to be influenced by the issue. The ruling Congress party is concerned about losing support from Christian voters who feel abandoned by the government after a clash between tribal and Christian communities. The BJP has capitalized on this anger, with some predicting that a third party candidate could potentially win in Narayanpur. | Latest News India