Dispute Erupts in Odisha Village Over Church and Sacred Grove

Odisha, Jan 29, 2026: A long-standing arrangement lasting close to 18 years has come under strain in Kapena village of Odisha’s Nabarangpur district, as tribal residents have demanded the relocation of a prayer hall-cum-church that functioned alongside a sacred grove.

The tribals, who form the majority among the around 250 households in the village, have opposed Christian prayer services and sought the shifting of the church, while Christians constitute about 30 families in the village.

Most villagers belong to the Gond, Bhatra and Santa communities and depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Over the years, some tribal families have converted to Christianity.

The situation turned volatile on Monday when a mob allegedly locked the church to protest prayers held on Sunday and forced a group to leave. The group also allegedly threatened to disrupt future prayer services and assaulted two youths from the Christian community.

The incident occurred close on the heels of an attack on a pastor in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district.

Krutibas Santa, a local Christian, said the church has existed since 2008 and that no hostility was faced until January 18, when villagers asked Christians to relocate the church and conduct prayers in their homes.

“Tribals want the church to be shifted from its existing location as they plan a seven-day havan near the grove (Mati Maa) in February. They say their priest has told them there can’t be a havan unless the church is shifted,” Krutibas told The Indian Express.

He said Christians conveyed their willingness to suspend prayers until the havan was completed, but the proposal did not satisfy the tribals. “When we asked for land near the village, where we can make a church and hold prayers, the tribals told us to set up a new church outside the village,” claimed Krutibas, a farmer.

Another local Christian, Trinath Santa, said a group of young men disrupted prayers on Sunday. “They used loudspeakers to issue threats and warned they would demolish the church if prayers were held again,” claimed Trinath.

While members of the Christian community said the church was established on private land, officials maintained that it was built on Gochar land, which is common property in villages.

Local Christians said they initially lodged a complaint with the Umerkote police but later withdrew it after the local administration convened a meeting between the two groups on Tuesday to restore peace in the village.

“They have given us a fortnight to take a call on shifting the church. We don’t know what to do. Had we indulged in any anti-social activities or disturbed the peace, they could have forced us. We have been praying here since 2008 and have never faced such a situation,” said Krutibas.

Ratan Gond, a local representative of the tribal community, acknowledged that they wanted the church relocated and that a crowd had locked the premises on Monday.

Gond said tensions escalated after Christians approached the police. “The matter should have been resolved in our village in a cordial manner. They escalated the matter to the police station,” Gond told The Indian Express.

To prevent any untoward incident, two platoons of police personnel—nearly 80 in number—have been deployed in the village, and senior officials have been asked to monitor the situation.

Umerkote inspector-in-charge Ramakanta Sai said the Christians lodged a complaint on Tuesday. “After the peace committee meeting, they said they want to live in peace and harmony and don’t want the case to be registered,” said Sai.

Nabarangpur collector Maheswar Swain said the situation has returned to normal. “The church has been unlocked after the peace committee meeting, and the villagers have decided to settle the matter amicably,” said Swain.

Courtesy: Times of India