A group of Christians in Odisha are living in fear after a mob disrupted their Sunday worship service and warned them to stop praying to Jesus.
The incident took place on 22 February in Badabali Chua village in Mayurbhanj district. Around 50 people reportedly gathered outside the home of Pastor Jagannath Naik, where members of the Christian Evangelical Assembly had assembled for prayer at about 9am.
According to local Christian leaders, the mob entered the house armed with sticks and ordered the believers to stop their worship. Pastor Naik said some of the attackers appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. His wife was allegedly assaulted first, and when he attempted to record the incident on his mobile phone, he was pushed to the ground and kicked. An elderly woman who tried to intervene was also reportedly attacked.
The pastor said he was forced to delete the video footage. Although the police emergency helpline was contacted, officers did not arrive during the incident. As of the following day, no action had been taken, according to local sources.
On 23 February, members of the alleged mob reportedly approached individual Christians in the village, warning them of further violence if they continued worshipping.
Bishop Pallab Lima, head of the United Believers Council Network India, said the situation in the area remains tense. He expressed concern for the safety of Christian families and criticised local authorities for what he described as a failure to respond promptly.
The region has a history of anti-Christian violence. Father Madan Sual Singh of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar recalled the 1999 killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in Manoharpur village. He warned that even small incidents in the district could quickly escalate if not addressed by authorities.
Church leaders have urged small Christian communities, particularly in remote tribal areas, to exercise caution. They say there has been a noticeable rise in hostility since the Bharatiya Janata Party assumed power in the state in June 2024.
Data released by the United Christian Forum, an ecumenical body based in New Delhi, recorded 40 incidents of harassment against Christians in Odisha in 2024. These included disruptions of prayer services, denial of burial rights, and reports of social boycotts. The group described the trend as deeply concerning and linked many accusations against Christians to claims of forced religious conversions.
Christians account for approximately 2.77 per cent of Odisha’s population of 42 million people, the majority of whom are Hindus and members of indigenous communities.
Observers also recalled the 2008 violence in Kandhamal district, widely regarded as one of the worst outbreaks of anti-Christian riots in India’s recent history. More than 100 Christians were killed, hundreds of churches were destroyed, thousands of homes were looted, and tens of thousands were displaced during weeks of unrest.
Christian leaders are calling for calm, protection for vulnerable communities and swift action by authorities to ensure religious freedom and uphold the rule of law.
Rewritten version of the original article from UCA News.
