Odisha pastor forced to drink drain water, brutally assaulted and humiliated in mob attack

• Four detained for assaulting Christian pastor in Odisha's Dhenkanal district
• Pastor was paraded, beaten, and forced into rituals at a Hindu temple
• Police investigate, promise action against those responsible.

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Police in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district have detained four individuals following an alleged brutal assault on a Christian pastor, who was reportedly paraded through a village, garlanded with slippers and subjected to forced rituals at a Hindu temple.

The incident, which has prompted a police investigation, occurred on January 4 in Parjang village. According to a formal complaint filed by the pastor’s wife, Bandana Naik, her husband Bipin Bihari Naik was leading a prayer gathering at a relative’s private home when a mob of 15-20 armed men stormed the property, NDTV reported.

The complaint alleges the group, which she claimed included members of the Bajrang Dal and local villagers, dragged Pastor Naik outside. He was then beaten with bamboo sticks, slapped repeatedly and struck on various parts of his body. The assailants allegedly smeared red vermilion across his face and placed a garland made of footwear around his neck.

The account given by the complainant details a subsequent two-hour ordeal where the pastor was paraded through the village. He was reportedly taken to a local Hanuman temple, where his hands were tied behind a rod.

Bandana Naik’s complaint states he was compelled to bow before the temple, forced to drink what was described as drain water and cow dung water and made to chant “Jai Shri Ram” while the beating and humiliation continued. Some accounts cited in the report also allege his head was shaved during the incident.

The attack is reported to have followed accusations from the assailants that the pastor was involved in religious conversions — a claim firmly rejected by his wife in her police complaint. Parjang is a Hindu-majority village with only a small Christian population.

Dhenkanal Superintendent of Police Abhinav Sonkar confirmed the detentions, as reported by NDTV, stating they were made after examining several people based on the complaint lodged by Bandana Naik. Authorities have assured that action will be taken against those found responsible, with the investigation ongoing.