Incident Summary:

12/14/2017: Assailants attacked Catholic civilians and priests at a pre-Christmas event in Bhoomkar, Madhya Pradesh, India. An unknown number of people were injured in the assault. No group claimed responsibility; however sources attributed the incident to the Bajrang Dal, a subgroup of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and stated that the attack was carried out in retaliation for "alleged forced conversions of Hindus to Christianity."

GTD ID:
201712140027

When:
2017-12-14

Country:
India

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Madhya Pradesh

City:
Bhoomkar

Location Details:
The incident occurred in the Satna district.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Type of Attack (more) Unarmed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Syro-Malabar Church of Northern India
Specific Description Catholic civilians
Nationality of Target India
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Syro-Malabar Church of Northern India
Specific Description Vehicle
Nationality of Target India
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity Syro-Malabar Church of Northern India
Specific Description Priests
Nationality of Target India
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Melee Hands, Feet, Fists
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Group Sub-name Claimed Responsibility
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Bajrang Dal No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured Unknown
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Christians attacked & detained," Calcutta Telegraph, December 15, 2017.
"Priests thrashed over ‘conversion’," Chandigarh Tribune, December 15, 2017.
"India Carol Singers, Priests Allegedly Beaten up For 'Religious Conversions' in Satna," India.com, December 15, 2017.