Christian leaders in India’s eastern state of Odisha have expressed concern over growing hostility toward Christians after villagers prevented the burial of an elderly tribal Catholic, forcing his family to conduct the rites several kilometres away days later.
Chhuta Hansda, a 90-year-old resident of Rangamatia village in Balasore diocese, died on January 7. Family members said preparations were being made for a Christian burial when his nephew objected, demanding that Sarna tribal rites be followed instead. Relatives declined, stating that the family had embraced Christianity decades earlier.
According to the deceased’s grandson, more villagers belonging to the Sarna animist tradition joined the protest and blocked the burial unless their rituals were observed. Local police and revenue officials visited the village on January 9 but were unable to resolve the dispute.
“The situation ended painfully for us,” said Binod Hansda, secretary of the Hatigarh Parish Council. “Three days after the death, the family was compelled to take the body to common land about five kilometres away to perform the last rites.”
Bishop Pallab Lima of the United Believers Council Network India confirmed the incident and said similar objections had occurred in the area in recent years. He warned that Christians were increasingly being denied burial rights across parts of the state and called for unity and dialogue.
Christian activist Pratima Minj said comparable incidents had been reported from several tribal districts, describing them as attempts to intimidate believers. Church leaders also alleged that attacks and harassment have increased in the past year.
