India — Christian Pastor Assaulted and Publicly Humiliated in Odisha

4 January 2026, Parjang village, Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India — A Christian pastor, Bipin Bihari Naik, was allegedly assaulted by a mob during a private prayer meeting at a residence. According to reports by NDTV, the attackers accused him of religious conversions, physically assaulted him, and subjected him to severe public humiliation, including forcing him to consume contaminated water.
The incident drew widespread concern as it involved not only violence but also degrading treatment based on religious identity. Reports indicated that the mob disrupted a peaceful gathering, and questions were raised about the delay and adequacy of law enforcement response.
The case highlights growing concerns over targeted attacks, mob violence, and lack of protection for religious minorities, particularly Christians, in parts of India.