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Unnamed Hindu villagers #fundie maktoobmedia.com

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.

Unnamed members of Bajrang Dal #fundie #psycho #wingnut maktoobmedia.com

As attacks against the Christian community have increased across the country, a pastor from Odisha’s Dhenkanal district was brutally assaulted, forced to chant Jai Sree Ram, and made to eat cow dung by members of the Bajrang Dal, his wife alleged.

The incident, which took place on January 4 (Sunday), came to light recently. Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik, along with his wife and a few others, was attending a prayer meeting at a house in Parjang village when a mob of around 40 people gathered outside.

Speaking to Maktoob, Vandana, Naik’s wife, who was present at the prayer meeting, said the mob asked Naik to come outside the house. When he told them he would do so after the prayer was completed, the mob forcibly entered the house.

“They started beating everyone inside the house. Besides us, there were seven families who were praying with us. My children and I managed to run out of the house and rushed through a narrow alley towards the nearest police station,” Vandana said.

Bipin, who was the main target, was not spared. According to Naik, he was dragged outside and beaten on every part of his body. He was continuously slapped and beaten with sticks by the crowd. Red sindoor was smeared all over his face, and a garland of slippers was placed around his neck.

Along with Bajrang Dal members and some villagers, Naik was dragged and paraded throughout the village. This continued for nearly two hours.

Meanwhile, Vandana was at the police station, pleading with officers to rescue her husband. “It was only after nearly two hours that the police reached the village,” she said.

Vandana added that despite her repeated requests, the police initially misled her, claiming there was no one in the village. However, when she insisted on accompanying them to the location, what they witnessed was horrific.

“My husband was tied to a Hanuman temple in the village. Both his hands were tied behind a rod. He was forced to consume cow dung and was bleeding badly. People were slapping him and forcing him to chant Jai Sree Ram,” she said.

However, the FIR accessed by Maktoob states that Naik was forced to drink drain water, while his wife repeated the claim that he was forced to consume cow dung.