- 05 March, 2026
Rayagada, Odisha, March 5, 2026: Tension prevailed in Dengaswargi village in Odisha’s Rayagada district after a Catholic church was vandalised and sacred religious articles were desecrated and burnt by a group of villagers on the evening of March 3, according to Church authorities.
The incident occurred within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rayagada and has raised concern among the local Christian community.
According to Fr. Abed Kumar Khura, parish priest of the cathedral parish in Rayagada, a large group of tribal Hindu villagers gathered around 7 p.m. and demanded that three Catholic families living in the village come out of their homes.
“The families were frightened and remained inside, fearing they would be assaulted,” the priest said while recounting the incident.
When the families refused to step out, the crowd allegedly turned its anger toward a small Catholic church located along the village street.
“At around 9 p.m., the mob broke open the church door and entered the building,” Fr. Khura said. “They damaged the altar and the cross and collected sacred articles including the priest’s vestments, Bibles and other religious items. These were taken outside and set on fire.”
The attackers also damaged the dome of the church building, leaving the place of worship badly vandalised.
FIR Registered
Following the incident, Church authorities approached the police. Acting on the advice of Bp Aplinar Senapati, Bishop of Rayagada, the affected families filed a First Information Report (FIR) on March 4 at JK Pur Police Station. The complaint was received by the Inspector-in-Charge as the officer of Therubali Police Station was not present at the time.
Later that day, a police team accompanied church representatives to the village to assess the situation. The team included the Inspector-in-Charge, the second officer of the police station, Fr. Shanti Chandana Pani, Vicar General of the diocese, Fr. Khura, Fr. Eric Xalco, advocate John Paul, and Sujit Nayak.
“When we reached the village, most of the accused were not present,” Fr. Khura said, adding that police also began verifying the legal status of the land on which the church building stands.
Senior Police Intervention
Later in the evening, a senior police officer representing the district Superintendent of Police arrived in the village to supervise the inquiry. Both parties were asked to appear at Therubali Police Station for further investigation.
Initially, the accused villagers refused to cooperate. Police deployed a platoon of personnel in the village to maintain order and warned that those refusing to appear would be brought to the station under police escort.
Eventually, around 180 villagers arrived at the police station along with members of the affected families. During the proceedings, six individuals believed to be associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were also present, along with a man dressed in saffron robes. Police officials reportedly prevented the latter from intervening during questioning.
Inquiry and Dispute Claims
During the inquiry, police heard statements from both sides. Some villagers claimed tensions had existed since the construction of the church in 2023. According to police records cited during the meeting, they alleged that some residents had objected to Christian vehicles using the village street.
The issue reportedly resurfaced during the silver jubilee celebration of the presence of the PARIST Sisters in the mission area, when Catholic faithful travelled to the village in auto-rickshaws passing through the street.
Another claim raised during the discussion concerned a dispute over the ownership of the land on which the church stands. Some relatives of a Catholic family alleged that the land originally belonged to their grandfather and that other heirs had not been consulted when the church was built.
The senior police officer reportedly cautioned the villagers against taking the law into their own hands.
“Even if there is anger or disagreement, violence cannot be justified. Such matters must be addressed through legal channels,” the officer told the gathering, according to those present.
Temporary Peace Measures
A temporary peace understanding was reached in the presence of police officials, local administrators and representatives of both communities. The meeting was attended by local officials including Block Development Officers and village leaders.
Authorities assured several measures to maintain peace in the area, including protection for the affected Catholic families, continued police presence in the village, and permission for Christians to continue prayer and worship. As a temporary arrangement, restrictions were also placed on vehicle movement through the village street.
Meanwhile, the FIR registered in the case will proceed under relevant legal provisions and the investigation is ongoing.
Church Thanks Authorities
Fr. Khura expressed appreciation for the prompt intervention of the police.
“We are grateful to the police administration for their timely response and cooperation,” he said. “Their presence helped prevent the situation from escalating further.”
Police personnel continue to remain stationed in the village to ensure peace and security.
By Sr. Sujata Jena
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