NEW DELHI, Jan. 2 -- In Metropolitan towns, including the national capital of Delhi, Christians celebrated Christmas under the protective shadow of the guns held by police pickets at their gates. There were far fewer incidents of Christmas-time violence this year, though a smashed statue of Jesus Christ in a vandalised church was clear signal that aggressive cadres of the Sangh Parivar, as it is called, will not slacken on their now eight-year-old campaign to intimidate the Christian community.

The scenario in the countryside, in small towns, and in forested regions, home to the ancient Adivasi communities, is far different. December has been fraught with reports of intimidation and violence from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, ...