Christians Locked Inside Church, Forced to Stop Prayers in Odisha Village

Odisha, Jan 28, 2026: Tension escalated in Kapena village of Odisha’s Nabarangpur district after members of the Christian community were allegedly harassed, assaulted, and stopped from conducting prayers.

According to reports, on January 25, a group of miscreants disrupted a prayer service and warned nearly 30 tribal Christian families to abandon their faith. The miscreants reportedly used loudspeakers to issue threats, stating that the church would be demolished and the families expelled from the village if they continued their religious practices.

“When the devotees questioned why they should stop praying, the accused locked the church from outside and forced everyone to leave,” alleged local resident Tuna Santa.

On Monday, two youths from the community—Jaladhar Santa (17) and Mohan Santa (20)—were allegedly assaulted by the mob.

Members of the community said they lodged a complaint at the local Umerkote police station. However, the police stated that while tension had prevailed between two groups in the village, security personnel had been deployed to maintain order.

“We are yet to receive any complaint on the issue, but after learning about the incident, adequate police have been deployed to contain the situation,” said Ramakanta Sai, IIC of Umerkote police station.

Nabarangpur Collector Maheswar Swain said a peace committee consisting of members from both groups had been formed, and a meeting was conducted in the village under the supervision of Sub-Collector (Nabarangpur) Prakash Kumar Mishra to restore normalcy.

The collector further stated that a house had been built on encroached land and that some villagers objected to a portion of it being used as a prayer hall.

“As per the peace committee’s decision, 15 days’ time has been given to relocate the prayer hall and to both groups to resolve the issue and live in harmony as they did earlier,” the collector informed TOI.

The incident comes days after a pastor was allegedly assaulted and harassed in public for conducting prayers in a village in Dhenkanal district. Pallav Lima, general secretary of Rashtriya Christian Morcha, Odisha wing, said such incidents appear to be deliberately provocative and a calculated attempt at polarisation. “In Nabarangpur’s case, tribals are being used against tribals,” he said.

Courtesy: TOI