Senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi have raised serious allegations regarding a mob attack on Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik and members of the Christian community in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district. Both leaders are demanding immediate prosecution of those involved, citing a rise in targeted violence against minorities.
In a post on X, Venugopal described the incident as a “gruesome mob lynching” and alleged the involvement of Bajrang Dal and “other Sangh outfits.”
“The gruesome mob lynching of Pastor Bipin Naik in Odisha is the latest example of the terror unleashed by Bajrang Dal and other Sangh outfits against Christians across the country — with Odisha emerging as a state of particular concern,” the post stated.
Venugopal further said that he has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Manjhi. He sought urgent government intervention and the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for what he characterised as a “hate crime.”
The gruesome mob lynching of Pastor Bipin Naik in Odisha is the latest example of the terror unleashed by Bajrang Dal and other Sangh outfits against Christians across the country – with Odisha emerging as a state of particular concern.
Wrote to Home Minister @AmitShah and… pic.twitter.com/Clyse6ogJP
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) January 23, 2026
In a series of posts on X, AIMIM chief claimed that the incident was part of a pattern of targeting minorities in the state.
“The mob attack on the pastor in Odisha is only one of several incidents. Ever since the BJP has formed a government in Odisha, the state’s tribals, Muslims and Christians have been targeted continuously,” he said. He further alleged that “multiple Bengali Muslim street vendors have been beaten up and threatened”, concluding that “‘jungle raj’ has arrived” in the state.
اڈیشہ کے ضلع ڈھینکنال میں عیسائی پادری بپن بہاری نائک پر مبینہ وحشیانہ حملے کی مذمت کرتے ہوئے ایم آئی ایم صدر اسدالدین اویسی نے کہا کہ اڈیشہ میں جنگل راج آگیا ہے۔ انہوں نے ایکس پر ایک پوسٹ میں لکھا کہ ’اڈیشہ میں پادری پر بھیڑ کا حملہ متعدد واقعات میں سے ایک واقعہ ہے۔ بی جے پی… pic.twitter.com/HXTmi5O984
— UNI URDU (@uniurdunews) January 23, 2026
Drawing parallels to other BJP-led states, Owaisi pointed out, “If you want to know what happens next, look at the news from BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh,” citing cases he said reflected a pattern of impunity.”
As per the allegations, as detailed in the letter, describe a harrowing event on January 4, 2026, in Parjang village, Dhenkanal. A mob of around 40 persons allegedly surrounded a residence where Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was conducting Sunday prayers with his wife, children and seven Christian families. The mob is accused of assaulting the congregants, detaining the pastor, smearing his face with sindoor, and parading him with a garland of sandals around his neck.
According to the allegations made in the letter, the pastor was tied up outside a local temple and subjected to extreme humiliation. He was reportedly forced to consume cow dung, compelled to chant “Jai Shri Ram,” and made to drink water from a sewer.
In his letter to Amit Shah, Venugopal said, “Seven Christian families have since been forced to flee their homes out of fear. Such acts have no place in a civilised society. Shockingly, no strict action has been taken against the accused, despite the size of the mob and the gravity of the crimes.”
