Dhamtari (HRNW)- A Christian family in India’s Chhattisgarh state was reportedly pressured by villagers to abandon plans for a Christian burial and instead conduct Hindu funeral rites for a deceased relative, according to The Christian Post.
The incident involved 55-year-old Peonbai Sahu, who died in Nawagaon village in Dhamtari district. According to reports cited by The Christian Post, the family had planned a Christian burial, but villagers objected and insisted that the funeral follow local Hindu customs.
After discussions within the village, the family agreed to the demands and the woman was cremated according to Hindu rites. A subsequent cleansing ceremony was also reportedly held at a village temple.
Local pastor Fr. Shibu Roy described the incident as a serious injustice and said that, in his view, even the dead were no longer being spared from religious pressure. He further claimed that similar incidents had become common in the state.
The incident has renewed attention on disputes involving Christian communities, burial rights, and religious practices in parts of Chhattisgarh. Previous reports have also documented cases in which Christian families were prevented from burying deceased relatives according to their faith.
Rights and religious organizations have raised concerns about the treatment of Christians in the state, while reports differ in how they characterize the causes and broader political context of such disputes. The latest case has also prompted renewed discussion over freedom of religion and the right to conduct funerals according to one’s faith.
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