A Christian family was rendered homeless after a mob of 60-70 villagers demolished their house and destroyed their belongings in Mukaram village of Sukma district on September 28, 2025.
The family of Sodi Deva, the sole Christian family in the village, saw their life’s work destroyed within hours. The mob, reportedly led by Sarpanch Madvi Kosa and Patel Bojja, stormed his home around 9-10 AM on Sunday morning.
Santosh Markam from Sukma district told Christian Today that the villagers had pressurised Sodi Deva and his family to give up their Christian faith. “Deva has been following the Christian faith for the past 4.5 years. When they refused to give up their faith, their house was dismantled and the family was chased away,” Markam said.
The attackers gained entry and demolished the dwelling. All household property was destroyed, and crops growing in the fields were uprooted. Gangi, 32, Deva’s wife, faced physical assault and public humiliation from the crowd. The couple’s two children, aged 12 and 16 years, witnessed the violence in fear as the mob threatened death and demanded their father abandon Christianity for his traditional beliefs.
The attackers reached Chintalnar police station, four kilometres away, ahead of the victims to register their complaint. With their safety at risk, the family escaped 15 kilometres to a neighbouring village.
The Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India confirmed the incident after speaking to Sodi Deva. According to their statement, the incident took place on September 28, 2025 in Mukrao village, Chintalnar police station, Sukma. Villagers are not allowing Christians in the area, which has created difficulties for the family. The Deva family regularly attends a church in Sehtalnar, about two kilometres from Mukrao, pastored by Pastor Betus. They are currently staying in Naiyapara with Pastor Israel, who is assisting them in drafting a complaint regarding the incident.
The attack came two days after a mob of 400-500 people stormed a church in Chintalnar on September 26. The attackers disrupted fasting prayers at the church in the Jagargunda police area, desecrated Bibles and religious articles, and called for Christianity to be eliminated from the area. Police sealed the church and said it would stay closed pending district administration approval.
In a video statement, Arun Pannalal, President of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, said the makeshift prayer structure in Chintalnar had existed for over 30 years on private land but now faces violent opposition.
“This is a very sad time when we cannot even pray. It is not anyone else’s land. It is our own land, our own everything, and we have been praying there for 30 years. But today we cannot pray there,” he said. Pannalal lamented that the Indian Constitution has lost its relevance, with neither respect for its principles nor adherence to its provisions in practice.
Pannalal said prayers were stopped to prevent bloodshed. He expressed frustration that despite repeatedly urging the Collector, Commissioner, and other officials to convene meetings with opposing groups to explain constitutional provisions, no such dialogue has taken place.
He contrasted this with Narayanpur district, where a peace meeting held after riots four to five years ago has maintained communal harmony since.
Pannalal also mentioned another attack on a church in Pathri village in the South Eastern Coalfields Limited area of Korba district, where the pastor was assaulted. When members of the Bhim Army arrived, they too were beaten by the mob.
Meanwhile, in Narayanpur district, villagers have lodged a complaint at Dhaudai Police Station against pastors and Christian converts from five villages, according to Simon Digbal Tandi, Coordinator of the Progressive Christian Alliance. The petitioners are demanding that authorities force converts to explain their decision and revert to their traditional tribal faith, with the threat of legal action if they refuse. Village leaders have also prohibited pastors and missionaries from entering their communities.
Markam called on churches, Christian organisations and compassionate individuals to provide assistance to the Deva family, who require urgent support for housing reconstruction and essential necessities.
