A burial conducted in violation of long-standing village customs in Chhattisgarh’s Jamgaon village, Kanker district, triggered a major law and order situation on July 28, as locals gathered in protest against what they describe as growing missionary encroachment that threatens to dismantle the region’s cultural and religious fabric.
The deceased, Somlal Rathore, a convert to Christianity, was buried within the village boundaries, defying age-old Hindu and tribal rites. The move ignited outrage among residents, leading to widespread protest, vandalism, and a police investigation into both the alleged murder and missionary-led conversions.
Somlal Rathore (40), a local resident who adopted Christianity three years ago, died on July 26. The following day, his family conducted a Christian-style burial on their private land, bypassing traditional Hindu funeral rites and the ‘Dev Pratha’, a sacred custom among tribal Hindus that mandates cremation outside the village.
This act, seen by villagers as an affront to their religious practices, triggered massive unrest.
“He was buried in the heart of the village, violating Dev Pratha. This is not just about one man, it is about preserving our dharma and centuries-old customs,” said one protesting villager.
Villagers rise in protest against rising Church conversions
On July 28, between 500 to 1,000 villagers marched to the local church and Christian homes. The crowd, largely composed of locals frustrated with the aggressive rise of churches and conversion efforts in the area, allegedly vandalised the church premises and threw out Christian religious items and furniture.
Videos of the protest, many of which have gone viral, show protestors walking on the streets and shouting slogans defending their traditions.
A burial conducted according to Christian rites in Chhattisgarh led to a major law and order situation in Kanker.
Somlal Rathore (40) died on July 26. His family buried him on their private land as per Christian rituals. However, this led to tension as villagers practice 'Dev… pic.twitter.com/C9cE4idyc5
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) July 30, 2025
Locals allege that in recent years, several churches have mushroomed across the region, often luring economically vulnerable tribal Hindus into conversion through financial and social incentives. These activities, villagers say, are distorting local traditions, severing community bonds, and dismantling sacred Hindu rites.
Body exhumed amid demands for justice
Tensions escalated further when Bhuneshwar Rathore, the deceased’s elder brother, filed a formal complaint alleging foul play in his brother’s death and raising objections to the secretive burial without family consent.
Acting on his complaint, the local administration exhumed the body on July 28 in the presence of police, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), and district officials. The body was sent for post-mortem to verify the cause of death.
“My brother was murdered. The burial happened without informing us. It’s not just suspicious, it is sacrilegious to our traditions,” Bhuneshwar told media outlets.
The burial, he emphasised, was a direct challenge to both his family’s rights and the dharmic order of the village.
Murder allegations fuel further tensions
Bhuneshwar also stated that Somlal’s conversion three years ago had strained family relations and invited tension in the village. With his sudden death and quiet burial, suspicions naturally followed.
Officials say that a formal case will be filed if the autopsy reveals unnatural causes of death.
Administration promises action but walks tightrope
Kanker Collector Nilesh Kshirsagar confirmed the body was exhumed lawfully and said that further action would be taken based on the medical report.
Superintendent of Police I.K. Elsela stated that both the alleged murder and the vandalism are being investigated. However, officials have not denied the growing concern over rising conversions and their link to escalating social unrest.
Missionary influence seen as threat to social harmony
The Jamgaon incident is not an isolated case. In recent years, tribal-dominated districts in Chhattisgarh have witnessed an alarming rise in conversions, often orchestrated by foreign-funded evangelical groups. In areas where Hindu tribal customs had remained unchanged for generations, churches have sprung up overnight, altering burial practices, communal festivals, and family traditions.
“They offer money, jobs, education to lure poor villagers. Once converted, people are made to reject everything from Gotra to Dev Pratha. This is cultural destruction,” said a local activist.
While missionary groups claim to be working for social upliftment, the cost is the erasure of dharma, something deeply resisted by tribal communities like those in Kanker.
Police on alert, cultural battle continues
Security remains heightened in Jamgaon with patrols deployed to prevent further unrest. Local leaders have demanded that the government take decisive action against illegal conversions and ensure that village traditions are respected.
Officials have called for peace committee meetings to defuse the tension. However, the broader issue remains unaddressed: What happens when Hindu customs meet modern missionary expansion?
The events in Kanker offer a glimpse into a growing cultural conflict playing out across tribal India, a clash between faith and a conversion-driven missionary movement.
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