Odisha Pastor Attacked Over Alleged Forced Conversion; Forced to Drink Drain Water

• A pastor in Parjang, Dhenkanal district, was attacked by 15-20 people during a prayer meeting on January 4 over alleged forced conversion.
• Attackers smeared vermilion on his face, garlanded him with shoes, forced him to drink dirty drain water, paraded him, and made him bow before a temple.
• An FIR was registered on January 13 after meeting Dhenkanal SP Abhinav Sonkar, leading to the arrest of four main accused.
• Political parties, including Congress and BJD, condemned the incident, with BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty calling it an affront to Odiya identity.
• Christian organizations, like the National Christian Front (Odisha), warned against false accusations of conversion and demanded strict action.

Why It Matters: A pastor in Odisha was brutally attacked and humiliated over unproven forced conversion allegations, sparking widespread condemnation.