Religious violence in Odisha

Religious violence in Odisha consists of civil unrest and riots in the Indian state of Odisha. In 1990s and early 2000s violence also took place between Hindus and Baptist missionaries and communist Maoists.

Indian state of Odisha

The Kandhamal district contains several tribal reservations where only tribal people can own land. The largest community in Kandhamal is the Kandha tribe. Most Kandha tribal people follow tribal and animistic forms of Hinduism. However, the socio-economic and political landscape of Kandhamal is dominated by its second-largest community, the non-tribal Pana caste. The region is also home to the Maoist guerrillas, a revolutionary communist movement. Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda stated groups tend to recruit most of their leaders and cadre insurgents from tribal communities. However the maoists were converting tribals to christianity and were also targeting the Indian Army to establish a communist state which angered many locals leading to violence."^[1]

Major issues in Kandhamal were the Maoists and naxal terrorists exploiting the tribals and Scheduled caste that have led to tensions are claims that "The Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act" is violated. Such claims include the forcible occupation of tribal land, fake issuance of tribal and exploiting tribals for insurgent activities to create a communist state . This previously resulted in civil unrest and communal tensions in 1986, 1994 and 2001.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Background

Historical background of conversions

Franciscan missionary Friar Odoric visited India in the 14th century and wrote about his visit to Puri in a journal which he later published in Europe. In the journal, Odoric wrote in detail about a huge chariot containing idols of Hindu deities from the grand and famous Jagannath temple which is taken out annually in a procession known as the rath yatra. Odoric's account of the ceremony spread throughout Europe and by the 19th century the word juggernaut began to be associated with an unstoppable force of such proportions that is capable of destroying everything in its path.^[7] Subsequently, Baptist missionaries came to Odisha in 1822 during the British Empire's colonial rule over India.^[8]

After India's independence

The communal disharmony arose even before Indian independence in 1947 on aforementioned issue of religious conversion. Conversions have been legislated by the provisions of the Freedom of Religion Acts. Odisha was the first province of independent India to enact legislation in regards to religious conversions. The Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, mentions that no person shall "convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any person from one religious faith to another by the use of force or by inducement or by any fraudulent means".^[9][10] Christian missions have been active in Odisha among the tribals from the early years of the twentieth century. Hindus and NGOs have alleged that the increase in the number of Christians in Odisha has been a result of an exploitation of illiteracy and impoverishment of the tribals by the missionaries in contravention of the law, instead of free will. Some also said the use of black magic and witchcraft to trap the poor tribals. Many of these Christian missionaries received the support of Maoist and Naxalist terrorists which angered the locals a lot.^[11]

Conversion controversy

Behind the clashes are long-simmering tensions between equally impoverished groups: the Kandha tribe, who are 80% of the population, and the Pana(ପାଣ). Both are original inhabitants of the land. The Panas have been converted to Christianity either by offering them money or by exploitation by missionaries or by force of naxalite-maoists.^[12]

Hindu groups have blamed the violence on the issue of religious conversion. Conversions have been legislated by the provisions of the Freedom of Religion Acts, replicated in some of the states in India. Odisha was the first state of independent India to enact legislation on religious conversions. The Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, stipulates that 'no person shall "convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any person from one religious faith to another by the use of force or by inducement or by any fraudulent means"'.^[10][13] Hindus claim the Christian missionaries were converting poor tribal people by feeding them beef, which is shirk in Hinduism.

Hindus have further alleged that the increase in the number of Christians in Odisha has been a result of exploitation of illiteracy and impoverishment and use of black magic by the missionaries and use of force by naxalists.^[14][15] The Census of India shows that Christian population in Kandhamal grew from around 43,000 in 1981 to 117,950 in 2001.^[16]

December 2007

Incident at Brahmanigaon, Phulbani on 24 December

In December 2007, Christians had installed a Christmas arch across the road in the village of Brahmanigaon, Kandhamal district . However the arch along with a tent set up was erected on the very site used by the Hindus to celebrate the Durga Puja festival in October. Protesters from hindu side in order to prevent violence then sought to close the weekly market and attempted to close all the shops in the area to avoid violence. However the Christian shopkeepers refused to comply with this and instead abused the hindus leading to an outbreak of violence. More than 20 shops were looted and destroyed. Three persons were killed.^[17][18]

Attack on Swami Laxmanananda

The violence escalated after news spread about Hindu monk Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati being attacked by a Christian fundamentalist en route to the spot of the confrontation.

Saraswati stated that he had left for Brahmanigaon to do Hindu religious work. Swami supporters, however, claimed that Christians at Brahmanigoan village wanted to install a Christmas gate in front of a Hindu temple. This was protested by the local Hindus questioning the motive of Christians in building a second gate near temple while one christian gate being already present at the place.^[19]

In his statement, Swami blamed Radhakant Nayak, a recent Christian convert and Congress Member of Parliament (Upper House) that allegedly led to further clashes between Hindus and Christians.^[20][21][22]

Hindus protested against frequent attack on hindus by christian fundamentalists and assasination attempt on hindu monks.During the protests the hindus were attacked by christian fundamentalists leading to violence.

Intervention by CRPF

By 30 December, rioting was brought under control by the security forces such as the CRPF. The total number of security personnel deployed was about 2,500 police and paramilitary. The total number of people taking shelter in relief camps increased to 1200.^[23]

2008 Kandhamal violence

A girl who was bruised and burnt during violence in Orissa in August 2008. It occurred when a bomb was thrown into her house by extremists.

Lakshmanananda Saraswati a hindu monk who was well respected for helping, serving and working for the tribals providing them education , medical and financial assistance and resources. He was an obstruction to the christian missionaries and maoists who tried to assasinate him 7 times. However on 8th time he was assasinated by maoists which they openly accepted.^[24]

Saraswati was murdered on Janmashtami Day of 2008 while visiting with pupils at the Kanya Ashram (a residential girls' school) in Tumudibandh, about 100 km from Phulbani, the district headquarters of Kandhamal district. Four of his disciples, including a boy, were also killed by gunfire.

The Kanya Ashram housed 130 girls on the day of the Janmashtami festival and many of the girls were eyewitnesses to the killing, according to The Indian Express.This followed by a series of deadly attacks on hindus . This led to extreme violence and riots between hindus and christain missionaries.

It is estimated that more tha 5600 homes and 13 educational institutes were set on fire, demolished or vandalized during the attacks and more than 90 killed and 18,000 injured and 54,000 displaced. Another report said that around 11,000 people were still living in relief camps, as of October 2008. Some tribals even fled away to border districts in neighbouring states and 310 villages were affected.^[25][26]

In October 2008, a senior Maoist leader claimed responsibility for the murder of Laxmanananda and police officials also confirmed that the Maoists trained youth in the tribal community to murder Laxmanananda.^[27][28][29]

2023 Sambalpur Anti-Hindu Violence

A muslim mob pelted stones on Hindu devotees and police during a Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in the Sambalpur district of Odisha on April 12 . At least 10 policemen suffered injuries in the clash and several vehicles were torched and damaged. Violence erupted after muslim mobs pelted stones from mosques on hindu`s hanuman jayanti bike rally .^[30][31]

Sambalpur MLA and president of (Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti), Jayanarayan Mishra also raised concerns about the presence of illegal muslim immigrants in the city, claiming that over 10,000 Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators are residing in Sambalpur Municipal Corporation area. “They have encroached on public spaces in the city. These groups are responsible for the rising crime and illegal activities such as drug trafficking, gambling and extortion. They control scrap business, garages and meat shops. At least 3,000 cattle are illegally slaughtered every month because of them. They are behind 20 per cent of the crimes in the city,” he alleged.^[32]

2024 Balasore Anti-Hindu Riots

Anti Hindu violence broke up in Balasore on 17 July 2024. The clash erupted when a group of people staged a protest at the Bhujakhia Pir area to protest the presence of animal sacrifice on public road . They said animal sacrifice in public in unethical and would also lead to lots of blood and waste on road which would lead to extreme pollution. They also asked not to illegally slaughter the cows in public as it would hurt hindu sentiments.They asked them to follow civic responsibility and not do such uncivil acts.^[33][34] The opposing muslim group allegedly started throwing stones at the protestors leading to violent confrontation and targeted violence against hindus. Armed with stones, sticks, glass bottles they set fire to hindu vehicles and shops, broke into villages, pelting stones on houses of hindus , setting many of them ablaze and vandalising the road. Half a dozen motorcycles were burned and 3 people were seriously injured .^[35][36][34]

2025 Gopinathpur Anti-Hindu Riots

On 17 June 2025 , a Muslim mob violently attacked Scheduled Caste Hindus in Gopinathpur, Jagatsinghpur, Odisha, following a theft investigation. The assault, reported by Hinduphobia Tracker, involved desecration of Hindu symbols, caste-based slurs, and brutal attacks on men, women, and children, including a disabled minor, using rods, sticks, and sharp weapons. The mob vandalised a temple and a Tulsi plant during Raja festival preparations. An FIR was filed under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and SC/ST Act against several named assailants. Despite police presence, the hour-long rampage left many injured .Over 100 Islamists brutally assaulted men, women & even children with rods, pipes, & weapons. A handicapped minor boy was also beaten.^[37]

2025 Cuttack violence

Main article: 2025 Cuttack violence

Violence was reported in Cuttack, Odisha, on 4–5 October 2025 during Durga Puja idol-immersion processions. According to local media, clashes began near Dargah Bazar and Haathi Pokhari after some residents objected to loud music played by a procession organised by the Jhanjirimangala Bhagabat Puja Committee.^[38][39] Police reported that stones and glass bottles were thrown, injuring several people including Deputy Commissioner of Police Rishikesh Khilari Dnyandeo, and that vehicles and shops were damaged.^[40] Fresh incidents were reported the following day during a motorcycle rally linked to a bandh call by the Vishva Hindu Parishad, when stone-pelting and arson were reported in several areas, leaving civilians and police injured.^[41][42] Authorities imposed curfew orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code and suspended internet services for 24 hours to curb the spread of rumours.^[43] Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and opposition leaders appealed for peace and condemned the violence, which left dozens injured and led to multiple arrests before calm was restored by 7 October.^[44][45]