Bhubaneswar: Tension has gripped Balabhadrapur village in the Champua block of Odisha’s tribal-dominated Keonjhar district following allegations of illegal conversion activities and the unauthorised construction of a church on government land. The situation escalated when local residents opposed these conversion efforts, prompting police intervention to restore calm.
Villagers alleged that a man named Makru Munda constructed a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) on government land in Balabhadrapur, a village situated along the Odisha-Jharkhand border. After the house was completed, the PMAY signboard was reportedly removed and replaced with the term “church,” transforming the residence into a site for Christian prayer gatherings.
Residents alleged that outside Christian missionaries began visiting the area to conduct prayer meetings and influence vulnerable tribal villagers to convert to Christianity. The local community strongly opposed these activities, citing concerns over the erosion of communal harmony and the misuse of government welfare schemes. As tensions mounted, police personnel arrived and managed to de-escalate the situation through dialogue and negotiation.
Locals expressed outrage over the incident, asserting that the house, built with public funds on government land, was being misused for unauthorised religious activities. They claim that these conversions are being carried out under the guise of social and religious gatherings, aiming to disrupt the social fabric of the village.
Despite repeated concerns raised by villagers, locals allege that the district administration has failed to take decisive action against such illegal practices. This perceived inaction has emboldened the perpetrators, who continue their activities unchecked.
Tanmay Dash, the Odisha State Organising Secretary of the Hindu Jagran Manch, condemned the incident, alleging that the misuse of government infrastructure for conversion purposes has become increasingly frequent in recent times. “It is unfortunate that buildings constructed with government funds on public land are being converted into religious centres aimed at converting tribal people,” he said. “This not only violates the law but also creates disharmony in peaceful tribal communities.”
The Hindu Jagran Manch has demanded stringent action from the administration to curb such unlawful conversion activities and restore communal harmony in the region.
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