By TCO News Desk
Hubballi, January 23, 2026
In a scathing condemnation of rising communal violence, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday denounced the brutal assault on a Christian pastor in Odisha's Dhenkanal district, demanding immediate action against the perpetrators and accountability from state authorities.
The attack, which occurred on January 4 in Parjang village, has drawn widespread outrage for its shocking brutality. Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was conducting a routine Sunday prayer meeting at a private residence with his wife, children, and members of seven Christian families when a mob of approximately 40 individuals stormed the premises. The assailants, allegedly affiliated with right-wing groups including the Bajrang Dal, assaulted the worshippers, dragged the pastor out, and subjected him to public humiliation. Eyewitness accounts describe the mob smearing sindoor on his face, garlanding him with sandals, parading him through the village, tying him in front of a local temple, forcing him to consume cow dung, chant "Jai Shri Ram," and drink contaminated water from a sewer drain.
The violence has left the local Christian community in fear, with the seven affected families reportedly fleeing their homes to avoid further reprisals. The incident was reportedly triggered by unverified allegations of forced religious conversions and insults to Hindu deities, a charge often leveled in such attacks across the country.
### Political Outcry and Demands for Action
Addressing the assault in separate statements, Venugopal labeled it a "gruesome mob lynching" and the latest manifestation of "terror unleashed against Christians" nationwide, with Odisha flagged as a hotspot under the BJP's governance. In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, he urged "urgent intervention" to arrest and prosecute all involved, emphasizing that such "hate crimes" erode India's secular fabric. "The repeated attacks on Christians taint the diverse culture and religious fabric of our nation," Venugopal wrote, calling for a thorough probe into the role of "Sangh outfits."
Owaisi echoed these sentiments, framing the episode as part of a "pattern of targeting minorities" since the BJP assumed power in Odisha. "Jungle raj has arrived in the state," he declared on social media, highlighting recent assaults on Bengali Muslim street vendors and drawing parallels to similar incidents in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. The AIMIM leader demanded a high-level inquiry and protection for vulnerable communities, warning that impunity breeds further violence.
### Police Response and Ongoing Probe
Odisha Police have detained nine individuals in connection with the attack, but critics, including Venugopal, have decried the lack of "strict action" despite the mob's scale and the offenses' severity. Dhenkanal Superintendent of Police Uday Nath Sahoo confirmed the arrests and assured full cooperation with the investigation, though no chargesheets have been filed as of yet. The pastor's family, initially pushing for justice to prevent recurrence, has since expressed a willingness to forgive amid delays, but rights groups warn this could undermine accountability.
### Broader Echoes of Concern
The condemnations from Congress and AIMIM come amid a chorus of national and regional voices. India's Catholic Bishops' Conference issued a strong rebuke, terming the assault a "violation of constitutional rights." Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, representing a northeastern state with a significant Christian population, urged a impartial probe, calling the incident "horrifying" and a threat to religious harmony.
This episode underscores escalating tensions against religious minorities in Odisha, where similar incidents have surged since the BJP's 2024 assembly poll victory. Activists and opposition leaders argue that anti-conversion laws and vigilante actions are fueling a climate of fear, prompting calls for federal intervention to safeguard India's pluralistic ethos.
As the investigation unfolds, the pastor's ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of interfaith peace in the world's largest democracy. Updates on the case are awaited, with Venugopal and Owaisi vowing to pursue the matter in Parliament if justice is delayed.
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