Archive · 23 Jan 2026
Pastor Assaulted in Odisha Amid Rising Communal Tensions
A Christian pastor named Bipin Bihari Naik was attacked in his home in Odisha, India.
A group of people, including members of the Bajrang Dal, accused him of trying to convert others to Christianity.
They hit him, made him wear a garland of shoes, and forced him to bow in front of a temple.
His wife said the police took a long time to come and help.
The pastor's wife says he was not involved in any religious conversions.
Some political parties have spoken about the incident, with some blaming the government for not stopping such attacks, while others say the opposition is making it a political issue.
This incident is part of a series of communal attacks in Odisha, with many cases going unreported.
Christian pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was allegedly assaulted and paraded through a village in Odisha on January 4.
The attack was reportedly carried out by 15-20 people, including members of the Bajrang Dal, who accused him of religious conversions.
The pastor was allegedly forced to consume cow dung, smeared with vermilion, garlanded with footwear, and paraded through the village.
His wife, Vandana, filed a complaint on the day of the attack, but the police reportedly took no action for several days.
Political parties have reacted to the incident, with the Congress and Biju Janata Dal condemning the attack, while the BJP accused the opposition of politicizing the matter.
- Who
- Bipin Bihari Naik, a Christian pastor, and his wife Vandana
- What
- Alleged assault, forced religious acts, and delayed police response
- When
- January 4 (incident), January 13 (FIR filed)
- Where
- Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India
- Why
- Accusations of religious conversion
- Victim
- Bipin Bihari Naik (Christian pastor)
- Location
- Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India
- Date of Incident
- January 4
- FIR Filed
- January 13
- Accusation
- Religious conversion
- Alleged Attackers
- 15-20 persons, including Bajrang Dal members
- Police Response
- Delayed action, arrived 2 hours after attack
- Detained Suspects
- 9 people detained and questioned
Sources
Odisha: Christian man allegedly assaulted, paraded through village on religious conversion claims
Odisha: Man beaten, paraded with garland of shoes by mob over alleged religious conversions
Attack on pastor follows series of communal attacks in Odisha; Opp blames BJP govt ‘ecosystem’
Odisha Pastor Assaulted, Forced To Drink Drain Water By Right-Wing Group
Meghalaya chief minister urges probe into Odisha pastor assault and conversion claims - Telegraph India
