A Christian pastor who was brutally assaulted and publicly humiliated by alleged Bajrang Dal members in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district has chosen to forgive his attackers, even as no arrests have been made more than two weeks after the incident, triggering fear among the local Christian community.
The incident took place on January 4 in Parjung village, where Pastor Bipin Bihari Nayak was holding a prayer meeting at his home with his family and members of seven other Christian families. According to the family, a mob of more than 40 people stormed the house and launched a violent attack.
Pastor Nayak was allegedly beaten with sticks, smeared with red vermilion, garlanded with slippers, paraded through the village and forced to eat cow dung while being made to chant “Jai Shri Ram”. His wife, Vandana Nayak, said the attack was sudden and terrifying.
“The mob started beating everyone. I somehow managed to escape with my children through a narrow lane and reached the police station,” she told Mooknayak. She added that despite calling the police helpline during the attack, the police delayed action and asked for formalities like an FIR and medical proof while the violence continued.
In a statement, Pastor Nayak said, “I was beaten with sticks, vermilion was applied on my face, I was garlanded with slippers and paraded across the village. I was forced to eat cow dung, but by God’s grace, I am alive.”
He made an emotional appeal, saying, “I have just one humble plea. Allow my family, myself and all Christian believers to live in peace and freely practise the faith we have chosen.”
On January 23, the anniversary of the martyrdom of missionary Graham Staines, Pastor Nayak announced that he had forgiven those who attacked him. “I forgive all those who beat me, humiliated me, forced me to eat cow dung and made false allegations. Our God teaches us unconditional forgiveness. I put everything in God’s hands,” he said.
His elder brother, Uday Nayak, accused the police of inaction. “The police did not reach the spot while the attack was going on. We submitted photos and evidence of the parade, but they were dismissed as inadequate. There are CCTV cameras in the area, yet no proper investigation has been done,” he said.
Uday Nayak said the family spent their own money to travel to the Superintendent of Police’s office along with 45 members of the Christian community to file a complaint. “Even after that, no concrete steps were taken. This was a premeditated attack that could have been stopped. Our trust in the justice system has shaken,” he added.
While the family has received support from across Odisha and Delhi, they say the prolonged lack of justice has exhausted them. Inspired by the forgiveness shown by the wife of slain missionary Graham Staines, the family said they would no longer pursue confrontation.
“We pray that those who attacked us change and find the true path. If the police take action on their own and punish the guilty, we welcome it,” Uday Nayak said, calling the incident a grim reflection of the state of religious freedom in the country.
Graham Staines was an Australian missionary who was burnt alive along with his two young sons in Odisha’s Keonjhar district in 1999. Bajrang Dal activist Dara Singh was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Staines had worked in Odisha for decades among leprosy patients and tribal communities.
