Christians in Odisha Denied Burial Rights, Forced Conversions Reported

Odisha, 14 May 2025: In a scathing indictment of the prevailing law and order situation in tribal-dominated Nabarangpur district, a joint fact-finding team comprising members of the Odisha Lawyers Forum and public-spirited activists has uncovered widespread human rights violations against Dalit and Adivasi Christians—ranging from denial of burial grounds to forced religious conversions.

The team, which visited the region on April 26 and 27, documented multiple cases in which grieving families were barred from burying their dead according to their Christian faith. In several instances, victims were allegedly coerced into either renouncing their religion or "converting" the deceased to Hinduism in order to gain access to burial spaces.

Shockingly, many of these violations have occurred within the Assembly constituency of the State Minister for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Minorities. While the team refrained from holding the Minister personally responsible for past incidents, it stated that he “has a constitutional duty to assure citizens that their rights will be protected henceforth.”

Cases of Denial and Desecration

Among the most disturbing cases is that of 20-year-old Saravan Gond of Melbeda village, who died in a workplace accident in Maharashtra. When his body was brought back for burial, local Hindu groups reportedly threatened the family, assaulted mourners—including women—and ultimately exhumed and stole the body after burial. A formal police complaint was filed, but no action has been taken yet.

In another case from Siunaguda village, 85-year-old Keshav Santa was denied burial due to his sons’ Christian faith, despite Keshav himself identifying as Hindu. Under pressure, the family was forced to sign documents declaring conversion to Hinduism. The team found that this was not the first such incident for the family—similar humiliation was faced during the burial of a daughter years earlier.

Other cases documented include:

Domu Jani (60): Denied burial by Hindu neighbours and buried in a forest after a two-day standoff.

Madhu Harijan (27) and Chandra Harijan (73): Their bodies were "converted" to Hinduism under pressure to allow village burial.

Jitu Bhatra (60): Denied burial in his village, his body was buried in a Dalit cemetery 7 km away.

Pushpanjali Bagh (20): Her death in Umerkote triggered roadblocks and Section 144 imposition as Hindu groups protested the allocation of burial land to Christians.

Damu Santa: Though not a Christian, his sons' faith led to his burial being denied in the village, with the body lying on the roadside for hours before being shifted 10 km away.

Constitutional and Legal Violations

The team concluded that these incidents represent blatant violations of Articles 21 and 25 of the Constitution, which guarantee the right to life with dignity and religious freedom. It further noted the failure to uphold provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, as well as NHRC guidelines and Supreme Court rulings on the rights of the deceased.

“These cases are not isolated,” said Manas Jena, a team member and social activist. “They represent a dangerous pattern of coercion, intimidation, and systemic discrimination, all taking place with the passive complicity of the local administration.”

Notably, the report points out that in many cases, police and officials were present but failed to act. In one instance, the victims themselves were accused by police of disturbing peace, and summoned under multiple sections of the BNSS.

Recommendations

The fact-finding team has made a series of recommendations, including:

• Enacting specific legislation to protect the rights of the dead.
• Training officials on constitutional rights and holding them accountable for negligence.
• Applying provisions of the Protection of Civil Rights Act and BNSS against those promoting untouchability or religious hatred.
• Establishing a District Minority Forum Cell and ensuring allocation of burial land for Christians.
• Ensuring paralegal training and victim compensation through District Legal Services Authorities.

The report also highlights the alarming silence from civil society organisations and lack of media coverage. “This is not just about Christians,” the report states. “This is about constitutional morality and the right of every Indian—regardless of faith—to dignity, even in death.”

As Odisha gears up for elections and political attention intensifies, the findings of this report could spark serious questions about minority rights in the state’s most impoverished district, where, ironically, religious bigotry now dictates the fate of the dead.

This report is based on a fact-finding mission led by Manas Jena, Adv. Sebati Soren, Adv. Sujata Jena, Jugal Kishore Ranjit, Adv. Kulakant D., and Ajaya Kumar Singh. Names of victims have been included with the consent of their families.

Report edited by Rajeev Rathan Journalist