Ten Christian families have been driven out of their homes by in India

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The families were forced to flee their village in the Latehar district, in eastern India, earlier last month due to their religion. They are "living in fear" and have not returned home because local authorities have been unable or unwilling to help them. The Christians said they told to renounce their religion by Hindu radicals at a village meeting on June 5. When they refused, they were severely beaten and driven out of the village.

We are living in fear, away from our homes Shyamlal Kujju

One of those forced to flee from Pahli village, 25-year-old Shyamlal Kujju, said: "We are living in fear, away from our homes. "It is almost a month since my house is locked by Hindu radicals and there is no attempt by the police or the government to resolve the issue. "Our lives are devastated as we hide ourselves from the Hindu radicals. "We do not know how long this will continue."

The attack took place in Pahli, in the east Indian district of Latehar

Attacks against Christians have increased in India's Jharkhand state since last September, when officials criminalised religious conversion. Pastor Rajdev Toppo said, "Things have become increasingly difficult to serve as a pastor in Latehar. "On a daily basis, I am threatened and ridiculed for teaching Christians the word of God. "The local government has not been helpful including when cases of the Christians were taken to the police and administration." William Stark, regional manager of anti-persecution charity International Christian Concern, said he was "deeply concerned" by the news.

US charity International Christian Concern said it was 'deeply concerned'