# Chhattisgarh churches restrict entry for non-Christians over safety fears

2026-09-24T12:01:48+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

At least eight churches in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari city have put up notices stating that entry for worship is restricted to Christians and that non-Christians who enter do so at their own risk. The Dhamtari District Christian Forum has asked other churches and prayer halls to display similar directives. The move follows the notification of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, which requires anyone seeking conversion to inform the district administration 60 days in advance. The Christian Forum's general secretary, Dr Diamond Filus, said the notices are a precautionary measure to avoid legal action under the new anti-conversion law. He alleged that some officials are siding with right-wing groups and that disruptions during prayer meetings over conversion allegations prompted the decision. More than 1,000 people have submitted self-declaration forms at the district Collectorate stating they attend church voluntarily. A district administration official said the issue has been sorted out but did not give details.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The Deccan Herald and Telangana Today reports frame the notices primarily as a safety measure in response to local tensions and conversion allegations. The Hindu goes further, detailing the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act provisions and quoting Filus calling them "draconian", a stronger critical framing. The Telangana Today report includes the Christian Forum's allegation that officials supported right-wing demands at a September 15 meeting, a detail The Hindu also carries but Deccan Herald omits. Across all three, the core driver is the new anti-conversion law, but the coverage diverges on how much weight to give official versus community accounts. The Collectorate meeting on September 15 and the self-declaration forms remain the concrete next steps to watch.

## Coverage

- deccanherald.com (neutral report) <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/chhattisgarh/only-for-christians-chhattisgarh-churches-in-dhamtari-ask-non-christians-to-enter-premises-at-their-own-risk-4157900>
  Leads with the notice text, minimal political context
- telanganatoday.com (government critical) <https://telanganatoday.com/conversion-row-dhamtari-churches-restrict-entry-to-non-christians>
  Foregrounds Christian Forum's allegations against officials
- thehindu.com (government critical) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chhattisgarh/enter-at-own-risk-churches-to-non-christians-as-anti-conversion-law-takes-effect-in-chhattisgarh/article71504784.ece>
  Describes anti-conversion law as having 'draconian provisions'

Tags: Chhattisgarh, Dhamtari, Diamond Filus, PTI
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