Local officials are teaming with Hindu extremists to attack Christians in India.

Christians in Madota, Bastar District, were summoned to a meeting by local officials to discuss issues related to problems with non-Hindu religions worshipping in the region.  When the Christians arrived, no local officials were there, but a mob of Hindu extremists showed up to beat the Christians.

“Some of the injured Christians were admitted in a hospital in Jagdalpur, and some local Christians have also been forced to go into hiding due to the constant threats they received from the right-wing groups,” Bhupendra Kohra told Morning Star News.

The government has banned missionaries and Christians from worshipping in the region.

“The district authorities, along with some right-wing elements, are also pressuring us to withdraw the petition filed in the high court against the ban on the entry of non-Hindu missionaries in Bastar,” said Arun Pannalal, president of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum. “Now our writ is pending in the high court. We see this latest attack as a pressure tactic.”

Local officials have said their goal is to stop Chrsitians from being able to discuss their faith with Hindus.