A Christian family that runs the Holy Kingdom English Higher Secondary School in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha has gone into hiding following a violent mob attack by right-wing groups on May 18 during a Sunday prayer service.

The attack, captured in multiple videos now circulating online, shows members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) storming the school, assaulting worshippers, and accusing the family of forced religious conversions — allegations made without evidence.

Pastor Jose Thomas, principal of the school and a community figure in Kawardha for over three decades, was arrested shortly after the incident. His family alleges the charges were vague and politically motivated, and that the attack is part of a prolonged campaign of harassment, extortion, and state complicity.

Around 11:40 a.m. on May 18, a mob of nearly 100 people forcibly entered the school premises shouting “Jai Shri Ram” while a Sunday service was underway. Congregants, including women and minors, were reportedly assaulted. Teenage girls hid in restrooms during the chaos.

“My father was arrested, my mother and younger brother were beaten, and we had to flee our home,” said Joshua Jose Thomas, Pastor Thomas’s son.

“The police were present but did nothing. They even refused to file our complaint.”

Videos of the incident show local police and media personnel at the scene, yet no attempt appears to have been made to prevent the violence. The school’s CCTV footage was seized by police, but has not been made public.

The day after the assault, police summoned Pastor Thomas under the pretext of reviewing CCTV footage. He was arrested under unspecified charges, and his phone was allegedly searched without a warrant.

His wife was also called in for questioning. After securing bail, Thomas reportedly had to escape the area hidden in the boot of a car as Bajrang Dal members surrounded the court premises.

Despite repeated attempts, the family has been unable to register an FIR against the attackers. Joshua alleges that senior police officers — including Superintendent Dharmendra Singh and ASP Baghel — are acting under political pressure. He also accuses BJP district president Rajendra Chandravanshi and Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma of shielding the attackers.

The family insists they have served the entire community for decades through education.

“Our school has produced IAS officers, doctors, engineers, and police officers,” Pastor Thomas said in a video statement.

“It’s heartbreaking to be treated like criminals after 35 years of service.”

The family claims the assault was triggered by a long-standing fee dispute involving a BJP supporter.

Chandravanshi allegedly demanded a school transfer certificate without settling two years of unpaid dues. When the school refused, threats and pressure mounted. Joshua says the school was then asked to pay Rs 1 lakh to suppress the false conversion narrative.

In early May, protests demanding the school’s closure began outside the district collector’s office. Despite eventually issuing the certificate, the harassment allegedly escalated.

This isn’t the first time the Thomas family has been targeted. In 2010–11, Pastor Thomas was jailed on false charges before being acquitted. In 2022, another mob destroyed parts of the school’s residential quarters. The family’s bank accounts were also reportedly frozen without due process by central agencies.

On May 25, churches across Kawardha remained closed as fear spread throughout the local Christian community.

Despite eyewitness accounts, video evidence, and formal complaints, police have yet to act against the assailants. While media reports suggest one officer may be transferred, no arrests have been made in connection with the mob violence.