Around 100 Christian families in a coastal village of Andhra Pradesh are facing a severe social boycott after refusing to contribute to the construction of a Hindu temple. The families, many of whom have been part of the local church community for decades, are reportedly being denied access to communal fishing areas, excluded from social gatherings, and cut off from essential goods and services.
According to reports from our field partners, in June 2025, a group of young people from the village attended a meeting organized by religious extremists in another district where persecution against Christians had already begun. Influenced by the Hindutva ideology promoted there, they returned to the village with hostility toward Christians and began spreading hatred within the community.
Later, the village community called for a meeting and announced plans to build a temple for the village goddess, asking every household to contribute financially toward the construction. When the Christian families refused to contribute, the community retaliated with a social boycott, subjecting them to intense social and economic hardships.
The village chief publicly announced that no villager was allowed to speak to the Christians and that anyone doing so would be fined 5000 Indian rupees (56 USD). Fearing the penalty, relatives and neighbors have stopped communicating with them. They are excluded from all social events, including marriages and funerals.
Where do Christians experience the
most persecution?
Most villagers earn their livelihood through fishing, and the believers now face discrimination in accessing common fishing areas or using shared sheds for storing fish. Their other small businesses have also been affected, as villagers have stopped purchasing from their shops. The Christian families are deprived of essential commodities, as local vendors refuse to sell to them, forcing them to travel long distances to buy or sell goods and find work.
A widow with five children, with tears, tells local media, “My husband passed away couple of months ago. When I was left with my five children to care for, my mother supported me and invested a huge amount of money to start a small grocery shop to meet our needs. Soon after, the village announced this boycott, and no one comes to my shop. I’ve lost my business. It’s heartbreaking.”
The Christian families have approached local authorities and the police seeking justice. Officials have repeatedly called for peace talks between the two communities, but the village leaders have refused to attend. Finally, with the help and advice of a Christian lawyer, the believers have filed a case in the High Court, which is currently ongoing.
Pray
Please pray that the Lord would strengthen the believers’ families and bring a breakthrough in their situation.
Pray that the Lord would provide all their needs, especially those who have lost their businesses or are unable to fish due to the boycott.
Pray for God’s wisdom for the advocate and others providing legal and moral support to the believers.
