India: The Police have issued questionnaires to at least 40 churches in Indore city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, seeking information which the Christians fear will be used by Hindu extremists to attack them.

Church leaders said the questionnaires are intrusive and discriminatory, as they were sent only to Christians.

Indore Catholic Diocese Bishop, Chacko Thottumarickal, talking to the said, we contacted the Police Commissioner and told him that it is an unjust order and very discriminatory – why only Christians? “The questions in the letter are also very suspicious. This is not in good spirit,” he said.

The 16-point questionnaire issued by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Information Centre of Indore, addressed to all police stations, seeks information about Christians’ activities in the city over the three months prior to its issue date of July 7. It has had a chilling effect, with many churches stopping in-person worship and going to online services, local media quoting sources reported.

“Although the police commissioner had stated that they withdrew the alleged notices, the police are still approaching the churches and enquiring about the same details and asking the pastors to fill out the document,” a source who spoke on condition of anonymity told Morning Star News.

“This information would be shared with the anti-Christian elements who will storm into churches and cause a ruckus,” the source said. “It clearly shows the police and the Hindutva [Hindu nationalist] groups are operating hand-in-glove.”

Another anonymous source said elections to be held in December are spurring efforts by the Hindutva political parties to polarize the Indian society, including attacks on Christians, for political goals.

The questionnaire asks about the objectives of Christian activities and if church leaders have noticed any suspicious conversions. It also asks if Christians are running any Non-Government Organizations and if they are receiving funding from abroad.

After Christians and media questioned Indore Police Commissioner Makrand Deoskar, he told the reporters in mid-July that the notices were actually sent to station house officers of all police stations in the city, and that officers may have sent them to the churches by mistake.