More than 80 cases of attacks and intimidation against Christmas celebrations in India have been recorded by a persecution watchdog.

International Christian Concern believes the incidents “turned Christmas celebrations into horror stories” for Christians across many states in the country. 

Hindu nationalist extremists and militia groups are responsible for the incidents, according to the charity. It highlights the Vishwa Hindu Parishad group, which called on Hindus to reject Christmas events, being a threat to “cultural awareness”. 

A group of children were attacked while taking part in a carol procession through the state of Kerala, with a man breaking their instruments, according to The News Minute.

The children were dubbed a “drunken criminal gang” by state leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), C Krishnakumar, the Hindu nationalist party led by prime minister Narendra Modi. He suggested there were political motives behind their caroling.

A school’s nativity scene was burned and Christmas decorations destroyed as a group stormed St. Mary’s English School in Nalbari.

In Madhya Pradesh, vigilante groups attacked churches. A visually impaired woman was assaulted in one of the churches in the city of Jabalpur. 

Prayers were disrupted in a cathedral in Bareilly, in Uttar Pradesh. There were allegations the gathering was a cover for conversions, which goes against the state’s laws. 

Other instances include shop decorations being destroyed, and people being confronted for wearing santa hats. 

Television news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai criticised the violence and police authorities for not stopping the attacks. 

“Christmas is a festival of joy celebrated across the world and in India with good cheer. To then target a minority in this country with such impunity exposes the mindset that to me is bigoted and anti-constitutional,” he said.