By Noora Maisoon
A mob affiliated with Hindutva groups attacked a group of Protestant Christians in Odisha’s Malkangiri district on 21 June, injuring at least seven people seriously and wounding more than 20 others. The assault occurred in Kotamateru village, where around 300 to 400 individuals armed with axes and other weapons stormed a church during a prayer service.
The group was reportedly holding a blessing ceremony for seeds to be sown in the upcoming agricultural season. The violence was unprovoked, according to villagers, many of whom said they had received repeated threats in the days leading up to the attack.
Due to Kotamateru’s remote location and unreliable communication networks, residents were unable to contact authorities immediately. Police arrived only after a local resident reached out to a pastor living outside the area, who then alerted law enforcement. The seven most severely injured victims were taken to the district hospital in Malkangiri, while others took shelter in a nearby church.
An FIR was filed on June 23, but no arrests have been made as of press time. Christian community leaders have accused members of the Bajrang Dal, a far-right Hindu nationalist organization, of orchestrating the attack. They allege the violence is part of a broader pattern of religious persecution following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s rise to power in the state.
Following the incident, the Malkangiri Pastors Fellowship, Malkangiri District Christian Mancha, and other civil society organizations submitted a petition to the Superintendent of Police, demanding urgent legal action and accountability from the police for failing to prevent the attack.
Despite the severity of the incident, no further action has been taken by authorities beyond registering the FIR. Charges include unlawful confinement and bodily harm, though community leaders argue that more serious charges could apply. According to Catholic Connect, the superintendent has responded to the petition, stating that arrests will be made after reviewing victims’ medical reports and has called for a peace meeting between the two communities.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.