Christian families in Chhattisgarh have been prevented from burying their dead in their home villages, forcing them to seek burial sites far away amid opposition from local residents and limited intervention by authorities, according to media reports.
Several incidents in November have drawn sharp criticism from rights groups, who say the denials amount to serious violations of constitutional freedoms and point to growing hostility towards Christians in tribal regions of the state.
In one case, Raman Sahu, a 50-year-old resident of Jewartala village in Balod district, died in hospital on 8 November. His family, who had embraced Christianity some years earlier, brought his body back to the village for burial according to Christian rites. Villagers reportedly blocked the funeral procession and demanded that the burial follow Hindu customs instead.
Police were deployed to prevent violence, but talks between officials and villagers continued for hours without resolution. The body was kept overnight at a funeral facility, and the family was eventually forced to bury Sahu on 10 November at a cemetery several miles away. District police later confirmed that the opposition stemmed solely from the family’s Christian faith.
A similar incident occurred days earlier in Kodekurse village in Kanker district. Manoj Nishad, aged 50, who had recently converted to Christianity, died on 5 November. His family sought to bury him on private land within the village, but residents blocked access, saying those who leave traditional beliefs lose burial rights in the village.
For three days, the family searched for a burial site, with the body moved between locations. Reports say some villagers even suggested burial would be allowed only if the family renounced Christianity. The body was eventually taken back to Raipur and buried far from home.
Christian leaders in the state say such incidents are becoming increasingly common. Arun Pannalal, president of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, said Christians are being denied the right to a dignified burial in their ancestral villages while authorities appear unable or unwilling to act decisively.
Earlier cases highlight a wider pattern. In Bastar district, a pastor’s burial was opposed earlier this year after village leaders cited customary rules barring Christian burials. An affidavit later submitted to the Supreme Court by a senior police official stated that those who abandon traditional community practices are not permitted to use village graveyards. The affidavit also noted a rise in disputes between Christians and tribal communities.
Human rights groups report hundreds of similar cases across tribal districts such as Bastar, Kanker and Balod. In some villages, local resolutions have reportedly stripped Christian families of burial rights and access to common land.
Observers warn that these practices reflect deepening social exclusion and religious intolerance. Advocacy groups say that denying burial to the dead not only intensifies the suffering of grieving families but also undermines constitutional protections for religious freedom and human dignity.
Adapted from ICC.
