Puri, Odisha | July 29, 2025: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has intervened and directed local authorities in Odisha’s Puri district to stop a Christian evangelical event that was reportedly designed to target vulnerable women and minor children from the fishing community of Nolia Sahi, Chandrabhaga, near the famous Konark Sun Temple.
The move follows an urgent complaint submitted by local villagers on July 26, 2025, who accused a group of Andhra Pradesh-based pastors of conducting unauthorised conversion activities and violating child protection and religious freedom laws.
In their detailed letter to the NHRC, the villagers alleged that: “We have credible information that certain foreign entities are providing financial incentives to local Christian individuals to facilitate these conversions especially targeting minor children & women in our locality in Chandrabhaga Nolia Sahi.”
The fishing community also expressed concern over the psychological manipulation of underprivileged children and mentally challenged minors.
The complaint referred to disturbing incidents involving Pastor Pikki Suvartharaju, previously caught on video:
“Pastor Pikki Suvartharaju… has converted mentally challenged minors to Christianity in Chatrapur, Odisha, earlier violating Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act 2015… He and others are planning another event on 29th, 30th, 31st July in Chandrabhaga.”
The video evidence submitted reportedly shows children being given suspicious substances to eat as part of the ritual, potentially violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, and pushing children into religious coercion under the guise of charity.
Despite multiple appeals to the Konark Police Station, no FIR was registered, nor was any preventive action taken to stop the scheduled event. This led villagers to escalate the matter to the NHRC, alleging official negligence and complicity, especially pointing to the role of the local IIC.
“Konark Police Station officials including its IIC are not registering FIR… we have every reason to believe that IIC Purnachandra Sethi… is providing indirect support for converting Hindus of Nolia Sahi,” the letter stated.
The NHRC, upon receiving the complaint and documentary proof, is believed to have issued directions to the District Superintendent of Police and local administration, following which the unauthorised evangelical event was blocked from taking place.
Villagers also accused the organisers of spreading hateful propaganda, including:
Pasting conversion posters on Hanuman Temple walls and Hindu homes,
Public disrespect of Hindu deities within 50 meters of temples,
Cow slaughter with inflammatory slogans like “It is your deity, but it is our food,” and
Establishing six unauthorised churches in the village, allegedly through illegal land grabs and bribes.
The complaint named several individuals allegedly leading the conversion drive: James Pastor, Joshi Prashant (both from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh), and local collaborators including Ch Babji Pastor, Bondi Srinu, and Bondi Satya Rao. All were accused of violating the Odisha Freedom of Religion Act, 1967.
A Win for Human Rights and Child Protection
The NHRC’s prompt action is now being seen as a critical intervention to protect the fundamental rights of local women and children, particularly from economically and socially backward communities.
The villagers, who stood firm against psychological, financial, and religious coercion, have welcomed the outcome as a victory for justice and human dignity.
“Such coordinated conversion attempts of minor Hindu kids, poor people belonging to socially & educationally backward backgrounds point to foreign funding through various illegal means,” the complaint warned.
Prakash, National Convenor of Kalinga Rights Forum, who assisted the villagers in approaching the NHRC, said: “The evangelical forces have long set their eyes on Odisha and the Jagannath Puri Kshetra. Since the British period, there has been a concerted effort to convert vulnerable and innocent tribal communities to Christianity. We strongly suspect that the unauthorised churches in the Puri region are being used primarily for money laundering and illegal religious conversions. We appeal to the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the irregularities committed by these groups, who appear to have strong backing from international evangelical networks.”
The evangelical conversion machinery operates under the guise of financial aid and “miracle healing” for vulnerable fishermen. Under the pretext of charity, these forces trap coastal communities into debt and dependency, then offer conversion as a condition for relief. Once converted, churches are established and expansion begins into nearby villages. This is a well-oiled strategy, particularly seen in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, where large swathes of coastal populations have already been converted.
Churches, protected under minority status, often evade scrutiny while engaging in questionable activities. These operations pose a serious national security risk, subtly advancing foreign agendas, fostering anti-Hindu sentiment, creating vote banks, and asserting separatist demands. The coastline—vulnerable and strategic—is being compromised, potentially paving the way for smuggling and external influence under the radar of religious freedom.
