Two tribal women in Odisha attacked on suspicion of converting to Christianity
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Two tribal women were tied to a tree and assaulted by a mob in the Remuna police station area of Balasore district, Odisha, on December 26, after being accused of attempting to convert a Hindu man to Christianity.
The incident occurred in the Chhankhanpur hamlet of Mukhura village, where the women, Subhasini Singh and Sukanti Singh, were allegedly harassed by locals who believed the women had brought a cake to celebrate a conversion. A video of the attack, which went viral, showed the women in their forties, with one of them having her face smeared with cake, surrounded by a crowd, according to The Wire.
The women were reportedly attempting to visit a local man, Gobind Singh, with the intention of converting him to Christianity. The incident escalated after members of the Hindu community learned of their plans and gathered at the site.
The mob tied the women to a tree, and Subhasini’s face was humiliated with cake, while Gobind Singh was also targeted for his alleged attempts to embrace Christianity. Police detained four individuals in connection with the incident, filing charges under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Odisha Freedom of Religions Act, which seeks to prevent forced conversions.
Following the incident, local police officers intervened, initially bringing the women to a nearby police station before realizing the jurisdiction belonged to Remuna police. The detained individuals were later released after the women and their aggressors reached an understanding.
The accused men apologized for their actions, and Gobind Singh expressed regret for considering conversion. However, two cases were still filed concerning the assault.
The incident has drawn criticism from political leaders, with an Odisha Congress spokesperson calling it shameful and highlighting the vulnerability of tribal women in the state.
Former BJD MLA Latika Pradhan condemned the vigilante justice displayed by the mob, asserting that such actions should not go unpunished. Pradhan also lamented the growing threat to vulnerable groups under the BJP-led state government. The incident has raised concerns about religious intolerance and the safety of women, particularly in tribal communities, in Odisha.