In a heartbreaking case that shows the dark side of religious fights in India, a Christian pastor in Odisha was badly beaten and shamed by a group of people. This happened in a small village where most folks are Hindus, and only a few families follow Christianity. Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik, who leads prayers for his community, was at a simple meeting in a house when trouble started. A crowd of about 40 men, said to be from the Bajrang Dal group, came and turned it into a nightmare. They hit him, tied him up, and did things that no one should face. His wife, Vandana Naik, told the story with tears, saying how her husband was made to suffer in front of everyone. This event, on January 4, 2026, has made many people angry and worried about how safe minorities are in the country. It came out in the news a few days later, and now police have started looking into it. But for the pastor and his family, life has changed forever—they are hiding because of fear. Such attacks are not new, but this one stands out for how cruel it was, using things sacred to Hindus to hurt a man from another faith.

Odisha, a state in east India known for its temples and beaches, has seen more of these problems lately. Christians make up a small part of the people there, about 2.3 percent as per old counts. But in places like Dhenkanal district, where this happened, tensions can run high. Parjang village is mostly Hindu, with just seven Christian homes. People there live simply, farming or doing small jobs. The pastor and his group were just praying quietly, not bothering anyone. But some locals think Christians are trying to change others’ religion by force, which leads to fights. Groups like Bajrang Dal, who say they protect Hindu ways, often get involved. They claim to stop wrong conversions, but sometimes it turns violent. In this case, the mob said the pastor was doing bad things, but the family says it was all lies. This isn’t just one story—it’s part of a bigger issue where minorities feel unsafe.

What Happened on That Day

It was a Sunday, January 4, 2026, when Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik went to a house in Parjang village for a prayer meet. His wife Vandana and a few others were there too. They were singing and reading from the Bible, like they do every week. Suddenly, a big group of men came outside the house. They were shouting and angry, saying the pastor was forcing people to become Christians. The mob, around 40 strong, pushed inside and grabbed the pastor. They didn’t let him finish the prayer. Instead, they dragged him out to the village road. Pastor Naik later told reporters how they hit him with sticks all over his body. Blood came from his head and arms. Then, they put red sindoor, the holy powder Hindus use, all over his face to mock him. They made a necklace from old slippers, which is a way to shame someone in villages, and hung it around his neck. The worst part was when they took him to the local Hanuman temple, a place for worship. There, they tied his hands behind an iron rod so he couldn’t move. They slapped him hard, making him bleed more, and forced him to say “Jai Sree Ram” again and again. That’s a chant for Lord Ram, but they used it to hurt him. And then, they made him eat cow dung, which is seen as dirty but also linked to cows that Hindus respect. The whole thing lasted hours, with the crowd watching and cheering.

Vandana Naik was scared when she saw the mob take her husband. She ran to call the police at the nearby station. But the cops didn’t come right away. She begged them to help, saying her husband was in danger. Finally, she went with the police to the village. What she saw broke her heart. “My husband was tied to a Hanuman temple in the village. Both his hands were tied behind a rod. Red sindoor was smeared all over his face, and a garland of slippers was placed around his neck. He was forced to consume cow dung and was bleeding badly. People were slapping him and forcing him to chant Jai Sree Ram,” she said in a shaky voice to the media. The police freed him, but the damage was done. The pastor needed medical help for his wounds. The family says they got threats after, so they left the village and are staying hidden.

Police and Legal Steps

After the attack, Pastor Naik filed a complaint at the Parjang police station. The police wrote an FIR, which is the first step in a case. They charged the mob under many laws from the old Indian Penal Code, like Section 147 for rioting, 323 for hurting someone, 294 for bad words, 506 for threats, 341 for wrong restraint, 342 for wrongful confinement, 295A for hurting religious feelings, and 153A for causing hate between groups. These are serious charges that can lead to jail time. But so far, no one has been caught. The police say they are looking into it, but the family feels it’s slow. “We called for help, but they didn’t come fast. If they had, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad,” Vandana said.

From the other side, some reports say the villagers were upset because the pastor spoke bad about Hindu gods like Lord Jagannath and cows. A website that supports Hindu causes said the mob made him chant “Jai Gau Mata” too, for cows. Bajrang Dal leaders have not said much, but in past cases, they deny doing wrong and say they stop illegal conversions. Police have to check both stories to find the truth. Odisha government, run by BJP, has laws against forced conversions, but this attack seems over the line.

A local police officer, who didn’t want his name out, told reporters, “We are talking to both sides. No one should take law in their hands. We will catch the bad ones soon.” But rights groups say police often side with the majority in such places, making it hard for victims.

Wife’s Full Account and Family’s Pain

Vandana Naik’s words have gone viral on social media, making people sad and angry. She said the mob didn’t just hurt her husband—they scared the whole family. The other people at the prayer ran away, and now no one wants to meet for prayers. “We were just praying in peace. Why do this to us?” she asked. Pastor Naik, after getting better, shared his side. “They beat me with sticks and put sindoor on me. I was paraded like a criminal. It was to break my spirit,” he said. The couple has kids, and they are traumatized. The family is now in a safe place, but they worry about going back. “Our home is there, but it’s not safe anymore,” Vandana added.

Christian leaders in Odisha have spoken out. A bishop from the area said, “This is against our Constitution that gives freedom to follow any faith. We want strong action.” Human rights workers like from Amnesty India have called it a hate crime. “Forcing someone to eat cow dung and chant slogans is torture. It must stop,” one said in a statement.

Similar Cases in India

This isn’t the first time Christians face trouble in Odisha. Back in 2008, there were big riots in Kandhamal district, where many Christians died and homes burned. Bajrang Dal was linked to that too. Since then, small attacks keep happening. In 2023, Manipur state saw fights between groups, hurting Christians. In Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, pastors get arrested on false conversion charges. Rights reports say attacks on Christians went up from 279 in 2014 to over 700 in 2023. Most are in BJP-ruled states, where anti-conversion laws are strict.

In Odisha, a 2024 report by a Christian group said 20 attacks last year, like breaking churches or beating believers. “It’s a pattern. Groups like Bajrang Dal feel they can do anything,” a worker said. But some Hindus say Christians do sneaky conversions with money, which angers villagers. “We need talk, not violence,” a local leader suggested.

Why This Happens and What It Means

Experts say these attacks come from fear and wrong ideas. In villages, people hear stories that Christians want to change everyone. Groups like Bajrang Dal use this to get support. Cows are holy in Hinduism, so forcing cow dung is a big insult. Tying to a temple and chanting makes it religious hate. It hurts not just the body but the soul.

For India, this questions if all faiths are equal. The Constitution says yes, but ground reality is different for minorities. Christians, Muslims, and others face more hate now. “If not stopped, it can lead to more fights,” a professor from Delhi said. Women’s groups note how Vandana had to fight for help, showing women suffer too.

The family wants justice. “Catch them and punish. We want to live in peace,” Pastor Naik said. Rights groups push for fast courts for hate crimes. Odisha CM has not spoken yet, but pressure is building.

Calls for Change

Church bodies like the Catholic Bishops’ Conference have asked the government to protect minorities. “Such acts shame our nation,” they said in a note. International watchers like the US Commission on Religious Freedom have listed India as a worry country. “More needs to be done,” they urge.

Locals in Parjang are split. Some feel sorry, others say the pastor asked for it. But most want peace. “We lived together for years. Why now?” an old villager asked.

This case could lead to bigger talks on laws. Maybe stronger rules against hate, or better police training. For now, the pastor’s family waits for safety.

FAQs

What exactly happened to Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik?

On January 4, 2026, in Parjang village, Dhenkanal, Odisha, a mob of about 40 from Bajrang Dal and locals attacked him during a prayer meet. They beat him with sticks, smeared sindoor on his face, put a slipper garland on him, tied him to a Hanuman temple, forced him to eat cow dung, slapped him till he bled, and made him chant Jai Sree Ram. His wife Vandana saw it and called police.

Who is Bajrang Dal and why did they do this?

Bajrang Dal is a Hindu group linked to RSS, saying they protect Hindu culture. They accused the pastor of forced conversions, but the family denies it. Such groups often act on rumors, leading to violence.

What did the police do?

Vandana called them, but they were slow. Later, they freed the pastor and filed an FIR under IPC sections like 147 (rioting), 323 (hurt), 295A (hurting feelings), etc. No arrests yet, probe ongoing.

Is this a hate crime?

Yes, as per rights groups. It targets his faith, using religious symbols to humiliate. It’s part of rising attacks on Christians in India.

What happened to the family after?

They got threats, so they hid. The pastor got medical help, but they can’t go home. Other Christians in the village are scared.

Are there laws against this?

India has laws like IPC 153A for hate, and Constitution Article 25 for faith freedom. But enforcement is weak in villages.

How common are such attacks?

Very common now. Reports say over 700 on Christians in 2023, up from before. Mostly in north and east India.

What can be done to stop this?

Better police action, education on tolerance, strict anti-hate laws, and talks between communities. Rights groups push for it.

Did Bajrang Dal admit it?

No, they often deny or say it’s local anger. In this case, no official word yet.

Where can victims get help?

Call police helpline 100, or groups like Christian associations, human rights commissions, or NGOs like Amnesty.