Indian court denies bail to Catholics arrested after confronting mob that disrupted Mass

Ten Catholics have been denied bail more than three months after they were arrested trying to stop a Hindu nationalist mob from disrupting a Mass in western India.

The arrests followed a May 1 Mass in the village of Kalinjara, where Hindu activists interrupted the liturgy and accused parishioners of illegal religious conversions under India's anti-conversion law. As Zeale News previously reported, four Catholics were initially arrested after parishioners attempted to stop the activists. UCA News now reports that 10 Catholics face charges including rioting, attempted murder, breach of peace, and illegal religious conversion.

Following the incident, police refused to register the Catholics' complaint because a complaint filed by the Hindu activists had already been registered, UCA News reported Aug. 6.

Police are searching for five additional parishioners named in the complaint, according to the outlet.

Father Arvind Amliyar, who celebrated the May 1 Mass, told UCA News Aug. 6 that a lower court denied bail to the parishioners following an Aug. 4 hearing.

The denial of bail will be appealed before the Rajasthan High Court, the top court in the state.

“It is very unfortunate,” Father Amliyar told UCA News, “that our people are languishing in prison for over three months.”

The case comes amid continued concern among India's Catholic bishops over anti-conversion laws adopted in several states. As Zeale News previously reported, bishops criticized the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, the state's anti-conversion law, warning that it restricts religious freedom and the ability to freely profess one's faith.

Udaipur Bishop Devprasad John Ganawa warned that the case could set a troubling precedent for Christians in India.

He told UCA News that if police continue handling such cases in the same manner, “every Christian praying in a church can be accused of religious conversion and put behind bars.”