Shillong, Jan 23: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has strongly criticised the alleged assault on a Christian pastor in Odisha, describing the incident as a serious breach of constitutional rights, even as police detained nine people in connection with the case. The remarks came amid growing political and religious concern over the alleged attack on Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik in Dhenkanal district.
In a statement posted on social media, Sangma said the reported act of forcing the pastor to eat cow dung and chant religious slogans amounted to a grave violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to every citizen. He said repeated attacks on Christians undermine India’s pluralistic and diverse social fabric, and urged the authorities concerned to conduct a thorough probe and take swift and decisive action against those responsible.
Odisha Police confirmed that nine individuals were detained on January 21 following the alleged assault, which took place in Parjang village during the first week of January. The case gained momentum only after the pastor’s wife approached the Dhenkanal Superintendent of Police directly, alleging that the local police station had failed to act on the initial complaint. Following this, an investigation was initiated.
According to accounts from the victim’s family and rights groups, the accused allegedly paraded Pastor Naik in public after garlanding him with slippers before handing him over to the Parjang police. Some local residents reportedly accused the pastor of being involved in religious conversions, a claim that has not been substantiated by authorities. Family members alleged that police inaction for nearly a week added to their distress.
The incident has also drawn sharp political reactions. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das termed the assault a shameful attack on the Constitution and freedom of religion. He criticised the delay in registering an FIR, alleging it reflected silence and patronage of hate, and warned that such incidents erode India’s plural ethos.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) issued a strong condemnation, calling the alleged assault a gross violation of human dignity and religious freedom. In its statement, the CBCI said forcing a person to eat cow dung constituted extreme humiliation and violence, incompatible with democratic values. The bishops demanded immediate and strict action against those involved and called on authorities to ensure justice for the victim.
CBCI spokesperson Fr Robinson Rodrigues said violence targeting individuals on the basis of faith strikes at the heart of constitutional principles of equality and freedom of conscience. The organisation appealed to civil authorities to ensure the safety of all citizens regardless of religious belief, while urging society at large to reject violence and work towards peace and harmony.
