Pastor Assaulted Amid Allegations of Insulting Hindu Deities and Forced Conversions in Odisha.

Odisha Pastor Accused of Abusing Lord Jagannath, Gau Mata; Mob Forces Him to Eat Cow Dung, Chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, “Jai Gau Mata’ in Dhenkanal. 

Sambit Mahapatra | HENB | Dhenkanal, Odisha | Jan 2026:: A violent incident involving the assault and public humiliation of a Christian pastor in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district has triggered intense debate over alleged forced religious conversions and disrespect toward Hindu religious beliefs in rural India.

According to reports by The New Indian Express via Maktoob Media, Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was attacked on January 4 in Parjang village after villagers accused him of openly abusing and ridiculing the worship of Hindu deities, including Lord Jagannath and Gau Mata, during a prayer gathering allegedly linked to conversion activities.

Allegations of Insulting Hindu Faith and Religious Symbols

Sources derived by HENB stated that Pastor Naik was reportedly delivering remarks during his prayer sessions that demeaned Hindu spiritual traditions and mocked the reverence of Lord Jagannath and Gau Mata, which are deeply sacred symbols for local Hindu communities. Villagers alleged that such statements were part of efforts to portray Hindu worship as inferior while encouraging conversion among economically vulnerable families.

Locals further accused him of luring poor villagers through promises of faith healing and other inducements, which they described as deceptive tactics for religious conversion.

These alleged acts of public insult to Hindu deities and sacred traditions reportedly angered villagers from Parjang and nearby areas, who demanded that the pastor stop what they perceived as deliberate humiliation of Hindu Dharma.

Violence Erupts After Villagers’ Protest

When Pastor Naik allegedly refused to discontinue his activities, tensions escalated rapidly. A mob of around 40 people, including local Bajrang Dal activists, reportedly gathered outside the house hosting the prayer meeting and forcibly entered the premises.

Vandana Naik, the pastor’s wife, claimed that those present were beaten and chased away. She said she and her children escaped through a narrow alley and sought police help.

Public Humiliation and Coercion Alleged

Pastor Naik alleged that he was beaten with sticks, smeared with red sindoor, forced to wear a garland of slippers, and paraded through the village. He was later tied to an iron pole near a Hanuman temple, where his hands were bound behind his back.

According to his wife, he was forced to consume cow dung and made to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, while being repeatedly assaulted.

Police Response and Legal Proceedings

Police eventually intervened and rescued the pastor, though allegations have emerged that medical assistance was delayed. Authorities registered a complaint over the assault, while a counter FIR was filed accusing Pastor Naik of forced religious conversion and deliberate insult of Hindu religious sentiments.

Wider Implications and Community Reaction

Parjang is a Hindu-majority village with only seven Christian families. Residents argue that the incident reflects growing frustration among Hindu communities over what they perceive as systematic disrespect toward Hindu beliefs and aggressive conversion campaigns.

While Hindu groups defend the villagers’ reaction as an expression of resistance against religious provocation, civil rights organizations have condemned the violence and urged authorities to uphold constitutional protections for all communities.

Investigation Underway

Officials have confirmed that investigations are ongoing into both the assault and the conversion allegations. Authorities have urged restraint and emphasized that any wrongdoing—whether religious provocation or mob violence—must be addressed strictly through legal channels.

The episode highlights the fragile social balance between religious freedom, cultural respect, and communal harmony in India’s pluralistic society.

Authorities have urged restraint and stated that all aspects of the incident—including allegations of religious abuse, forced conversion, and police inaction—are under investigation.

Growing Concern Over Escalation of Christian Conversions and Resulting Backlash

The Parjang incident has also intensified broader concerns over the reported escalation of Christian conversion activities across multiple Indian states, including Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of the Northeast. Hindu organizations and local community leaders claim that organized missionary networks are increasingly targeting economically weak, tribal, and socially vulnerable Hindu populations, allegedly using inducements such as money, medical claims, education support, and so-called faith healing.

In states like Odisha—where anti-conversion laws exist—such activities have sparked strong counter-reactions from local Hindu communities, who view them as an assault on indigenous faith traditions and cultural identity. Observers note that while constitutional religious freedom remains protected, the perceived rise in conversion drives has simultaneously led to heightened social friction, protests, and occasional vigilantism, underscoring the urgent need for lawful intervention, dialogue, and enforcement to prevent communal escalation.

_Agency Inputs.