Odisha: Christian missionaries try to convert tribal family to Christianity by denigrating Hinduism
Balasore, Odisha, India 
7 November, 2024
Case Summary
In Odisha's Balasore district, an attempt to convert tribal community members to Christianity was thwarted when local villagers became aware of Christian missionaries' activities. Three Christian preachers—Dhananjay Kisku, Purushottam Rana, and Chandra Badili—arrived in Balasore's Kirtaniya village with a group of over 20 people, reportedly attempting to persuade a tribal family to convert to Christianity. The missionaries claimed that abandoning Hinduism would alleviate their suffering and illnesses, promising a better life if they embraced Christianity.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This particular case has been classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under the category of Predatory Proselytisation because of the various distinct components that demonstrate the perpetrator's bias against the Hindu faith and their deliberate attempt to alienate the victim from his Hindu identity. Based on the case details, the sub-category which has been selected here is- Attempting to convert/converting by denigrating Hinduism. In several cases, Hindus are converted or an attempt is made to convert Hindus by denigrating their faith, Hinduism. In such cases, the Hindus associate with the non-Hindu perpetrators often by choice and then, the attempt to convert them by insulting their faith, showing the faith down etc begins. An example of this would be a non-Hindu gathering where the Hindus are attending the gathering of their own free will. However, once they attend the gathering, there is an explicit attempt to convert them by abusing their faith and hailing the faith of the perpetrator. The denigration of the Hindu faith is often based on misrepresentation of the Hindu faith, its doctrine and scriptures and insult to espoused traditions if not blatant lies about Hindu beliefs and ways. Such conversions or attempts at conversions are driven by animosity towards the Hindu faith and are therefore documented as religiously motivated hate crimes. In this particular case, the Christian evangelists were overtly trying to convert Hindus by disparaging Hinduism while glorifying their own faith, Christianity. In an effort to indoctrinate the Hindus against their religion—which itself is a product of hostility towards their faith—they were denigrating Hinduism, claiming that abandoning Hinduism would alleviate their suffering and illnesses. The Christian missionaries were extolling their faith by promising a better life if they embraced Christianity. Further, the Christian evangelists were attempting to exploit a specific vulnerability of the victims who were in all likelihood also economically backward. The missionaries exploited the poor victims by promising them freedom from their sufferings and ailments. Since exploiting vulnerabilities for the explicit purpose of conversion is purely based on animosity towards the victim's faith, this case has been categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 1
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 1
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 0
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 1
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
