Bhubaneswar: A tense situation unfolded in a tribal-dominated village of Odisha’s Sundargarh district following an alleged attempt at illegal religious conversions by Christian missionaries. The incident occurred in Chadashahi village under Phuljhar Panchayat of Lahunipada block, where local residents and social activists protested against a “Hallelujah” event purportedly organised to convert tribal families to Christianity.
The event was led by two local villagers, Nandi Patra and Gangi Patra, and aimed to convert 11 families. During the ceremony, members of these families were made to bathe in a nearby stream, were given new clothes, and were reportedly set to be baptised in the presence of around 20 Christian preachers.
However, the event was interrupted when local social activists, including Bharat Mahant, Sipun Barik, Sushant Kumar Satapathy, Bablu Rajput, and Maheshwar Mahakud, arrived with villagers and raised objections.
This incident created a tense atmosphere in the village for a time. The activists invoked the Odisha Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, which stipulates that prior administrative approval is required for any religious conversion.
Initially, the Christian preachers asserted that they were not engaging in any illegal activities. However, when confronted with the legal provisions, they admitted to attempting unlawful conversions.
In the aftermath, the missionaries who had come for the conversions provided a written undertaking, acknowledging that they had acted illegally and had not obtained any permission from the authorities. They assured the activists that they would refrain from such activities in the future before leaving the village.
The missionaries had arrived in the village in three vehicles from areas including Rourkela, Kutra, Kuarmunda, and Dumermunda, allegedly with plans to convert11 families.
Shantanu Kusum, Samarasata Pramukhfor Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Odisha (West), toldOrganiser that tribal communities are being misled under the guise of faith healing and spiritual salvation. He urged the administration to take stringent legal action against those violating the law.
Similarly, Ram Chandra Nayak, Prant Samyojak of Bajrang Dal, Odisha (West), condemned the increasing number of so-called “Hallelujah” programmes being used to manipulate vulnerable tribal populations. “These missionaries are spreading superstition and exploiting the sick and poor. There must be a complete ban on such events, and strict punishment should be imposed on those attempting conversions through unlawful means,” Nayak asserted.
