New Delhi: A mob suspected of affiliation with the Bajrang Dal violently attacked a group of Protestant Christians in Kotamateru village, Malkangiri district in Odisha, on Saturday. It has left eight injured. The victims had been returning from a church service when hundreds of assailants armed with axes and sticks had intercepted them, as reported by The Telegraph.
Pallab Lima, state general secretary of the Rashtriya Christian Morcha, stated that tensions had been building for months as Hindu right-wing activists pressured Christians to abandon their faith under the banner of the “Sanskriti Bachao Abhiyaan” (Save Culture Campaign). The attack reportedly began on Saturday morning and continued for hours before one of the Christians managed to contact a local pastor, who then alerted the Malkangiri police. Authorities later rescued the injured and transported them to the district hospital.
According to Pallab Lima, state general secretary of the Rashtriya Christian Morcha, tensions had been mounting for months as Hindu right-wing activists pressured Christians to abandon their faith under the banner of “Sanskriti Bachao Abhiyaan”, or “Save Culture Campaign”. The attack began Saturday morning and continued for hours before one of the Christians contacted a local pastor who alerted the Malkangiri police. The police authorities eventually rescued the injured and rushed them to the district hospital.
A state of shock and fear
Local Christians remain shaken by the violence. On Sunday, they staged a peaceful dharna (sit-in protest) outside the Superintendent of Police’s office and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate action.
“All our people are in a state of shock. Those in the hospital are afraid to return to their village after discharge,” Bijoy Pusuru, a Christian community leader was quoted as saying.
Local Christians in the region were shaken by this incident of violence. They have staged a peaceful dharna outside the superintendent of police’s office on Sunday and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate action. Bijoy Pusuru, a Christian community leader has said “All our people are in a state of shock. They (those in hospital) are afraid to return to their village (on discharge).”
The police, however, attributed the violence to a personal dispute between two brothers, one Hindu and one Christian, claiming the conflict escalated when the Hindu brother pressured his sibling to “return to the Hindu fold.” Inspector Rigan Kinda added that a group of local Hindus confronted the churchgoers and began questioning their loyalty to Christianity, leading to a clash.
The police, however, has attributed the violence to a personal dispute between two brothers, one Hindu and one Christian claiming that the conflict escalated when the Hindu brother pressurised his sibling to “return to the Hindu fold”. Inspector Rigan Kinda added that a group of local Hindus confronted the returning churchgoers. After this, they started questioning their loyalty to their practicing religion and a clash ensued.
Allegations of violence denied
Sibapadha Mirdha, a district leader of the Bajrang Dal, denied any organised involvement in the attack. He claimed the incident was a spontaneous reaction against alleged forced conversions led by Christians.
Sibapadha Mirdha, district leader of the Bajrang Dal, denied any orchestration of violence. He justified the actions as a spontaneous response against alleged Christian led forced conversions.
The attack has also reignited concerns over religious tensions in Odisha. In a previous incident, a 29-year-old nun was forced off a train in Khurda. That case was later dismissed after allegations of trafficking and forced conversions were found to be unsubstantiated.
This attack has brought to the fore an earlier incident of harassment in Odisha, where a 29-year old nun was forced off a train in Khurda. This case was later dismissed when the allegations of trafficking and conversions were proved false.
