Members of the tribal Christian community were allegedly harassed, assaulted, and prevented from holding prayers in Kapena village in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district, after Hindu villagers demanded that a church be shifted from its current location, claiming that its presence was “obstructing their religious activities.”

According to community members, a mob used loudspeakers to issue threats, warning that the church would be demolished and that around 30 tribal Christian families would be expelled from the village if they continued their religious practices.

Notably, a sacred grove and a prayer hall-cum-church—Blessing Youth Mission Church—had existed in close proximity for nearly 18 years without reported conflict.

For the past two weeks, however, tension has prevailed in the village. Tribals form the majority among the roughly 250 households in Kapena. Most residents belong to the Gond, Bhatra, and Santa communities and depend on farming for their livelihood. Over the years, some tribal families have converted to Christianity.

Late on Sunday evening, two tribal Christian youths—John Santa, 20, and Jolandar Santa, 17—were allegedly summoned by villagers and beaten. The youths later filed a complaint at the Umerkote Police Station on January 26, naming seven villagers. Christians said three of the named accused were among those who led the mob attack.

Police subsequently visited the village, removed the lock from the church gate, and deployed personnel to guard the building, said Gourab Kauri, secretary of the Nabarangpur Christian Minority Council, as quoted by UCA News.

“We received a distress call on January 26 from members of the Christian community in Kapena village, who said they felt threatened after some villagers asked them to shift their church to a distant location, alleging it was obstructing religious activities,” The Hindu quoted Ramakant Sai, Inspector-in-Charge of Umerkote Police Station, as saying.

Following the complaint, senior district officials along with police personnel reached Kapena village. Residents from nearby villages also joined the locals in opposing the church.