The dispute began following the death of Chamra Ram, father of village sarpanch Rajman Salam. The sarpanch’s family had converted to Christianity, and the deceased was buried within the village premises. Many villagers objected, claiming the burial violated long-standing local customs and norms governing last rites.
For two days, sections of the tribal community protested, demanding that the body be exhumed and cremated according to traditional practices. The situation turned violent on Tuesday when villagers attempted to remove the body from the grave, leading to a confrontation with members of the Christian community. Stones and sticks were used, leaving several villagers and police personnel injured. The injured were taken to the Amabeda primary health centre for treatment.
To prevent further escalation, police sealed the village, restricted the entry of outsiders and deployed additional forces. The two groups were separated and kept under close watch. The area remains tense, with police maintaining a security cordon while administrative officials engage with community representatives to restore calm.
Villagers accused the sarpanch of abusing his authority by permitting the burial without village consent. They argued that village rules allocate separate burial or cremation sites based on religious affiliation and that these norms were ignored. The Christian group, however, maintained that the burial was carried out in accordance with their religious practices and that they have the right to perform last rites as per their faith.
The incident comes amid broader tensions over religious conversion in the district. In recent months, 14 villages in Kanker have imposed informal bans on the entry of pastors and priests, citing protection of local traditions under the PESA Act, 1996. The Chhattisgarh High Court has previously upheld such ग्राम सभा decisions, terming them precautionary measures to safeguard local culture.
Authorities said the situation is under control but continue to monitor developments closely.
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