Over 200 incidents of violence against Christians have taken place in India so far this year says a faith-based advocacy group.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has reported a staggering number of violent anti-Christian events in 2019.

218 incidents were recorded by the group, averaging about 27 instances per month over the past eight months, reports International Christian Concern. Of these events, 159 were due to intimidation and threats issued by vigilante mobs.

Despite these numbers, only 25 First Information Reports were filed with police.

147 instances of violence against Christians were recorded in 2014 by the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI). Last year, EFI reported an increase in such incidents to 325.

The increased violence against Christians in India has been tied to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) rise to political power in 2014. The BJP government endorses the Hindu religion in the country, considering followers of other religions to hold foreign beliefs. As such, they are treated with hostility within the country.

India is currently ranked tenth on Open Doors USA's World Watch List for persecution against Christians worldwide, with levels of persecution in the country considered "extreme."