Burial Denied to 14-Year-Old Christian Boy; Hindu Tribals Threaten to Demolish Church in Kapena Village

Nabarangpur, Odisha, February 16, 2026: The burial of a 14-year-old Pentecostal Christian boy was allegedly obstructed by sections of local tribal residents in Kapena village under the jurisdiction of Umerkote Police Station, prompting a day-long standoff and police deployment, according to family members and local church representatives.

The minor, identified as Ayush Santa, son of Krutibas Santa, died in the early hours of February 14 following a prolonged illness linked to kidney and liver complications. After his death, the family prepared to conduct the last rites following a prayer service and to bury him in the village cremation ground, which has traditionally been used by both Hindus and Christians.

Police Deployed Amid Day-Long Standoff

Speaking to reporters, Krutibas Santa said, “We wanted to bury my son in the village burial ground as we have always done. But some Hindu villagers objected and obstructed us.”

According to him, the family then decided to bury the child on their own patta (titled) land located less than two kilometres from the village. “Even there, we were stopped. The villagers said Christians cannot be buried in Kapena village or even within the village panchayat limits,” he alleged.

A day-long standoff followed, during which 30–40 police personnel were reportedly deployed to maintain law and order. Despite the police presence, the burial was allegedly not permitted until the grieving family signed a written declaration.

The declaration, as described by the family, stated that since Christians in Kapena do not have a separate cemetery, Ayush would be buried on private land and that henceforth the Christian community would not attempt to use the common cremation ground until a further decision. The declaration also reportedly included a commitment not to use religious symbols at the burial site and to maintain peace.

Only after signing this document was the family allowed to bury the minor boy on their private land in the presence of police.

Allegations of Threats to Church and Social Boycott

Kapena is a predominantly tribal village of around 200 residents, with nearly 40 families professing Christianity (Pentecost) for over three decades. Community members state that relations had been largely peaceful until recent months.

Krutibas Santa alleged that tensions escalated in January 2025 when two tribal Christians were forcibly taken to a temple and assaulted. Since then, he claimed, some Hindu villagers have demanded the demolition of the local church and asked Christians to leave the village.

“They told us to find separate land for our church,” Santa said. “As per police instructions, one of our members donated a registered land outside the village to construct a prayer house. But the villagers are opposing that as well. For the past 20 days, police have been guarding our church and our homes.”

He further alleged that several reporters had visited the village. “I gave them statements and spoke only the truth. They asked whether we became Christians after receiving chocolates or other inducements. I denied it. I spoke only the truth. Perhaps because of this, my son’s burial was obstructed, which is an injustice,” he said.

Krutibas Santa also alleged that certain Hindu villagers have been influenced by outsiders. “Some people from outside the village have been coming regularly and holding meetings with the Hindu villagers. They are organizing them and instigating them against us. Earlier, we lived peacefully. These tensions began only after the outsiders started intervening,” he claimed.

He expressed gratitude to the police for maintaining order but questioned why the community’s constitutional rights were being curtailed.

“We have been Christians for more than 30 years, even from my grandfather’s time. We lived peacefully, participated in village functions, and practiced our faith without conflict. Why are we now denied our right to profess and practice our religion?” he asked.

Pastor Alleges Targeting of Christian Youth

Pastor Gaurav Kaur of Nabarangpur said the Christian youth of Kapena have been active in education, sports, and community leadership.

“They are educated and organized. They contribute to the development of the entire village,” he said. He further alleged that some tribal Christian families in the village have secured decent livelihoods and stable employment. According to him, this has allegedly led to jealousy and resentment among certain sections of the Hindu community.

Pattern of Burial Denials in the District

Local Christian leaders claim the Kapena incident is not isolated. In the past year, at least five incidents of burial denial have been reported in different parts of Nabarangpur district. In several cases, families allege that First Information Reports (FIRs) were either not registered or that no arrests were made despite complaints.

On March 3, 2025, in Siunaguda village, the body of 75-year-old Kesab Santa reportedly lay on the street for hours after villagers objected to his burial because his children had embraced Christianity. The family alleged that they were pressured to reconvert to Hinduism and, upon refusal, were cut off from basic services and threatened.

In another case, 19-year-old Sarwan Gond, a Christian migrant worker from Malbeda village in Nabarangpur district, died in Maharashtra while digging a borewell. When his body was brought back on April 16, burial in the common graveyard was allegedly blocked.

 Though the family buried him on their own land with legal permission, villagers allegedly exhumed the body the next day and cremated it in a nearby forest. No arrests have been reported so far, and the family is said to be living outside the village in fear.

The incident in Kapena has once again brought into focus concerns over the denial of burial rights, alleged intimidation, and threats against places of worship of minority communities in parts of southern Odisha. As of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by district authorities regarding action against those who allegedly obstructed the burial or threatened the Christian community.

By Sujata Jena