Bhubaneswar: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday called on the Odisha government to carry out a thorough probe and take swift action against those allegedly involved in the assault of a pastor in Dhenkanal district earlier this month.
Raising the issue on X, Sangma described the incident as deeply disturbing. “The recent attack on Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik in Odisha, forcing him to eat cow dung and chant religious slogans, is a grave violation of the constitutional rights guaranteed to every citizen of India,” he wrote.
According to the complaint filed by the pastor’s wife, the incident took place on January 4 in the Parjang police station area. She alleged that a group of 15 to 20 people, armed with bamboo sticks, entered their home while her husband was praying. The mob allegedly assaulted him, dragged him out of the house, paraded him through the village, and forced him to drink drain water.
The pastor, identified as Bipin Bihari Nayak, was reportedly targeted over allegations of religious conversion. Media reports quoting his wife said the attackers accused him of “indulging” in conversion activities before subjecting him to public humiliation.
Police have since detained four people in connection with the case following the filing of the complaint. Authorities say further investigation is underway.
Some locals had accused the pastor of being involved in religious conversion. His family, however, has firmly rejected the claims, saying the attack was a clear case of mob violence with no legal or factual basis.
