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Growing trend to deny burial space for Christians
Refusing burial space to Christians is becoming an alarming trend in villages across central and eastern India, particularly in the tribal regions of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Jun 06, 2025
A file picture of Christian volunteers and workers restoring the tombs in Ambala Christian Cemetery in northern India after a court restored their burial rights in February 2021. (Photo supplied)
RAIPUR, India: Refusing burial space to Christians is becoming an alarming trend in villages across central and eastern India, particularly in the tribal regions of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Christian leaders say the practice is being used to pressure believers into abandoning their faith and to deter others from associating with Christian communities or Victor Thakur of Raipur warned that Christians of all denominations are increasingly facing this discrimination. He described it as a coordinated and deliberate strategy that needs urgent attention from Church leaders and civil society.A recent case in Havechur village, Chhattisgarh, involved the denial of burial for Ankalu Ram Potai, a 55-year-old Christian who died on May 13. Villagers, upset by his conversion decades earlier, guarded his home overnight to prevent a secret activist Arun Pannalal reported at least 15 such incidents in Chhattisgarh since 2023, while Fr Ajay Singh of Odisha documented around 10 in the past year. They believe radical Hindu groups are attempting to isolate Christians and suppress religious freedom through these local burial denied, families often transport the deceased to distant Christian cemeteries, sometimes over 80 kilometres away. In one 2025 case, the Supreme Court failed to grant burial rights to the family of Pastor Subhash Baghel, who was eventually buried 85 kilometres from his home after nearly three stressed that political and sectarian groups exploit tribal poverty and illiteracy to fuel religious divides. Thakur similarly warned of 'divide and rule' tactics and urged Christian communities to unite and engage in dialogue to counter the growing hostility.
Conditions in Odisha have worsened since the BJP's 2024 return to power. In March 2025, Christians in Siunaguda village were forced to convert to bury a relative, and others have faced harassment and social exclusion. Father Singh called these acts not only discriminatory but also violations of basic constitutional and human rights. --
