‘Enter at own risk’: churches to non-Christians as anti-conversion law takes effect in Chhattisgarh

“In accordance with church management rules, entry into the church for worship is restricted to Christians. Others who enter voluntarily do so at their own risk” — reads a noticeboard in Hindi outside the 116-year-old Sunderganj Mennonite Church in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh.

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.”

It has been nearly a month since such boards have come up outside churches in the city. “They have been put up primarily as a precautionary measure to avoid action under the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026,” said Diamond Philus, general secretary of the Dhamtari District Christian Forum.

The law, which was notified in August, is aimed at curbing religious conversions, according to Ministers in the BJP government.