The accused, Bapin Nayak, Pitambar Biswal, Prashant Nayak and Badal Panda, were arrested, but released later as both sides reportedly reached an understanding
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Viral videos of three tribals, including two women, being tied to a tree and thrashed by a mob in Balasore district of Odisha on Thursday over allegations of attempting to convert Hindus to Christianity have sparked outrage.
Gobind Singh and the two women, Subhasini Singh and Sukanti Singh, were beaten up by a mob for converting to Christianity a day after Christmas.
The viral videos show a crowd surrounding the victims being tied to a tree while a Hindutva leader is saying something in Odia language pointing a finger at the women. The crowd also raised ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and other Hindutva slogans. Another video of the incident shows both women being forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and a woman’s face was smeared with a cake.
Media reports said the police in Balasore have arrested four persons after filing two cases related to the incident on 27 December. However, the accused, Bapin Nayak, Pitambar Biswal, Prashant Nayak and Badal Panda, were released later as both sides reached an understanding, reports reaching here said on Sunday.
Giving details about the incident, Subas Mallick, inspector-in-charge at the Remuna police station, said Subhasini, a Christian hailing from Makhpada village in the Nilgiri area, had come to the village to visit one Gobind Singh (40), a Hindu tribal, allegedly to convert him into the Christian faith. Her visit was facilitated by Sukanti, a Hindu woman from Chhankhanpur.
“Somehow members of the Hindu community came to know about Subhasini’s visit and her intentions and immediately gathered at the spot. They tied the two women to a tree and also smeared Subhasini’s face with the cake she had brought with her. Gobind Singh was also humiliated by the mob for trying to embrace another faith,” the police inspector was quoted by The Wire as saying.
“As both sides reached an understanding, we released the accused. They apologised to the women for their misbehaviour and Gobind Singh also expressed regret for agreeing to change his faith. However, two cases have been filed in connection with the incident,” Mallick added.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media with opposition leaders expressing their condemnation.
Manas Chaudhry, a Congress leader in Cuttack, said the incident was shocking and an inhumane act against the tribals.
“Such horrific and targeted attacks on minorities in Odisha are deeply alarming and unacceptable. This incident is not just a violation of human rights but a stain on the secular fabric of our state and nation. The growing danger to minorities in Odisha demands immediate attention and action from the government, judiciary, and civil society,” he said.
“We stand in solidarity with the victims and demand strict action against the perpetrators. Let us ensure that Odisha remains a place where every community feels safe and respected,” Chaudhry added.
Congress MP from Odisha’s Rayagada, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state calling the incident “disturbing.”
“Disturbing incident in Nilgiri, Balasore: Tribal Christian women tied to trees & disfigured by members of a so-called Hindu outfit on Christmas. Within 6 months, BJP govt’s true colours are evident. Alarming rise in minority attacks demands immediate action,” he said.