Bastar Pastor Assaulted Over Conversion Allegations 

A pastor from Odisha was beaten with slippers and punches in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district amid accusations of forced religious conversion; a viral video shows the crowd tearing his shirt.

Retawand, Bastar: Tensions flared in a quiet village under the Bastar police station limits on Sunday after residents allegedly assaulted a pastor from Odisha, accusing him of attempting to orchestrate religious conversions in the region. The man was beaten with fists, kicks, and slippers, a video of which has since gone viral.

The Incident Unfolds

The confrontation took place in Retawand village, where the pastor, a native of Odisha’s Nawarangpur area, had been living with his family for roughly a year and a half. According to initial reports, the situation escalated during a village meeting called by local residents to address suspicions about his activities.

Sources familiar with the matter said that community members had grown wary over the past few months, alleging the pastor was trying to change the faith of tribal families. “A meeting was held on Sunday where the entire village participated, including families who had already converted. The residents asked him to leave,” a local official said, requesting anonymity.

Viral Video Shows Violence

The viral clip, which circulated widely on Monday morning, shows a heated argument deteriorating into physical violence. In the footage, a mob is seen tearing the pastor’s shirt and hitting him repeatedly with rubber slippers and bamboo sticks. The crowd was also heard giving him an ultimatum to vacate the village along with his family immediately.

When the pastor resisted the order, the verbal spat turned physical, leading to the thrashing. Police confirmed that no life-threatening injuries were reported, though the man suffered bruises on his back and arms.

Police Intervention

Local authorities reached the village late Sunday evening after receiving information about the disturbance. A team from the Bastar police station pacified both sides. While the pastor has submitted a written complaint regarding the assault, officials have not registered an FIR yet pending further investigation into the conversion claims.

"We have spoken to both parties. The situation is tense but under control. The pastor has assured us that he will leave the village voluntarily soon," a police officer told reporters. Officials added that no formal arrests have been made so far as they are verifying the authenticity of the conversion allegations.

Background and Community Friction

Bastar has historically been sensitive to religious identities, given its significant tribal population and past incidents of communal friction. This is not an isolated event. Just last week, a similar dispute erupted in neighboring Kanker district, where two communities clashed over the burial of a converted individual, leading to a lathi charge that injured an ASP.

Ground-level cues suggest that the locals in Retawand viewed the pastor’s prolonged stay with suspicion, especially as he was not originally from the area. While freedom of religion is constitutionally protected, Chhattisgarh, like many states, has seen heightened vigilance against forcible conversions.

Looking Ahead

Administration officials remain stationed in the village to prevent any retaliation. The pastor has reportedly agreed to leave Chhattisgarh within the week. Meanwhile, local tribal rights groups have called for a broader inquiry into the presence of outside religious workers in deep forest areas.

For now, the viral video has sparked fresh debate online, but on the ground, authorities are focusing on ensuring a peaceful exit to avoid further polarisation.