Church leaders in India condemn the assault and forced feeding of cow dung to a Protestant pastor in Odisha, calling it a “blot on democracy.”
Newsroom (22/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) Church leaders across India have condemned the brutal assault and public humiliation of a Protestant pastor in the eastern state of Odisha, describing the attack as a shocking affront to India’s democratic and secular values. The incident, which saw Pastor Bipin Bihari Nayak allegedly forced to drink water mixed with cow dung, has triggered widespread outrage among Christian organizations and human rights advocates.
Pastor Nayak was reportedly attacked on January 4 by around 20 right-wing Hindu activists armed with wooden sticks in Pajrang village, located in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district. Witnesses say he was beaten severely, garlanded with slippers, and paraded through the streets while being accused of converting Hindus to Christianity.
According to his elder brother, Pastor Uday Nath Nayak, the victim sustained serious injuries, including partial hearing loss and deep psychological trauma. “The entire family is devastated,” he said, noting that Nayak’s wife and young daughters witnessed the assault firsthand. The family has since fled their rented home following threats allegedly issued by members of the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu nationalist group.
Delayed Police Action Sparks Outrage
Despite a formal police complaint by Nayak’s wife, Vandana, authorities initially failed to act. Uday Nath Nayak said that even after the forced feeding of cow dung—a desecrating act targeting both body and faith—the police refused to intervene. Only after public outcry on social media and local news coverage did police detain four people for questioning on January 21.
“The delay in justice compounds the crime,” said Uday Nath Nayak. “We will cooperate fully with the investigation, but we demand protection for our community.” He added that many local Christians have been intimidated into silence, refusing to answer calls or attend worship for fear of retaliation.
Church Leaders Demand Accountability
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) issued a strong statement on January 22, calling the attack “a heinous act of violence and degradation.” The bishops emphasized that forcing a human being to consume cow dung was a grave assault on dignity and faith, urging authorities to take immediate action against the perpetrators.
“This is a blot on the nation’s democracy and its commitment to secularism,” the CBCI statement read. It called for peace, interfaith harmony, and an end to the rising tide of religiously motivated violence, particularly in states governed by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Father Robinson Rodrigues, spokesperson for the Indian bishops, described the assault as “a shame on humanity.” He urged the government to deliver “exemplary punishment” to deter future attacks.
Growing Concern Over Religious Intolerance
The incident has added to concerns about deepening religious polarization and emboldenment of extremist groups under BJP-led state governments. The Malayalam-language Catholic newspaper Deepika, in an editorial titled “Cow Dung Force-Feeders,” condemned what it called increasing impunity for hate crimes.
The paper argued that such violence “could be stopped within 24 hours if there were political will” and linked the surge in attacks to state-level anti-conversion laws, which critics say target Christians and Muslims under the guise of protecting Hindu identity. Citing data from India Hate Lab, the editorial noted that 88 percent of hate speech recorded in 2024 originated from BJP-ruled states.
Rise in Attacks Since BJP’s Odisha Victory
Christian organizations report a sharp rise in intimidation, social boycotts, and disruption of church services since the BJP took power in Odisha in June 2024, ending the 24-year tenure of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Community leaders allege that right-wing groups have grown increasingly aggressive, often acting with near impunity.
Christians constitute only 2.77 percent of Odisha’s 42 million residents, with Hindus and Indigenous communities making up nearly 90 percent. For many in the state’s small Christian minority, the attack on Pastor Nayak has become emblematic of a growing climate of fear and the erosion of secular protections once considered fundamental to India’s democracy.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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