Christian Woman Left for Dead, Daughter Assaulted in Chhattisgarh Attack

Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh, July 17, 2025 : In a shocking act of violence allegedly fuelled by a land dispute and deep-seated religious hatred, a Christian tribal family in Khohadapara village, under Dhanora Police Station in Kondagaon district, was brutally attacked on 15 July.

The accused, Chinta Dugga and his three sons, reportedly assaulted Smt. Shanti Dugga and her three daughters while they worked in their field. Armed with an axe, spades, and wooden sticks, the attackers inflicted serious head injuries on Shanti. Believing she was dead, they hid her unconscious body under a pile of paddy straw.

During the same attack, 22-year-old Lachhin Dugga was dragged into a nearby room and partially stripped in an apparent attempt to sexually assault her. She escaped into the forest despite suffering injuries to her hand and shoulder. Her sisters, Mukeswari (20) and Radhika (14), were also beaten but managed to flee.

While in hiding, the daughters contacted well-wishers who immediately helped them reach Dhanora Police Station. The girls informed the police that their mother had been killed and hidden in the field, and that Lachhin had narrowly escaped sexual assault.

Police rushed to the scene and found Shanti alive but in critical condition under the straw heap. She was first taken to the District Hospital in Kondagaon and later shifted to DKS Hospital in Raipur for advanced treatment.

One of the accused, a son of Chinta Dugga, later surrendered and confessed:

"I killed the woman. Arrest me and send me to jail."

Despite the confession, the formal registration of the FIR had not been completed at the time of this report.

Religious Bias Behind the Violence

Local sources indicate the attack stemmed not only from a long-standing land dispute but also from increasing hostility towards the family’s Christian faith. After the death of Ghansu Dugga in 2007, his widow Shanti was denied her share of land. The situation worsened when she converted to Christianity in 2017, reportedly following the miraculous recovery of her children after church prayers.

Her refusal to renounce her faith allegedly led to further threats and harassment from relatives.

Current Status and Appeal for Help

Shanti remains in critical condition at DKS Hospital. Lachhin is receiving care at Community Hospital, Keshkal. Radhika is in the care of Pastor Hemant Kandhapan, and their brother Dikesh is in a Jagdalpur hostel.

The family urgently needs medical support, legal aid, trauma counselling, and basic relief.

Public support is requested to ensure justice, recovery, and protection for the survivors.

By Pastor Simon Digbal

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