Chhattisgarh: 26 Tribal Families Face Social Boycott Over Conversion Dispute, Police Deployed
Tensions over religious conversion have escalated in a village in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, where 26 tribal families claim they have been socially boycotted and given a 30-day ultimatum to 'return to the tribal culture'. The situation prompted the deployment of at least 100 police personnel to maintain order.
The dispute traces back to last December in Bharanda village, when objections to Christian prayers allegedly led to a mob assault on a local resident. Locals say the tensions were further fuelled by a clash over burial rights in neighbouring Kanker district's Badetevda village on December 16-18, which sparked communal violence that spread to parts of Kanker and Bharanda.
Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the ultimatum, but police presence remains in the area to prevent any further escalation. District officials are mediating between the affected families and the community leaders who imposed the boycott.
The incident highlights ongoing sensitivities around religious conversions in tribal regions of central India, where customary traditions and beliefs often intersect with newer faith practices. Legal experts note that social boycotts, while not illegal in themselves, may infringe upon constitutional rights if they restrict access to basic amenities or public spaces.
Both the state government and local administration have urged calm, stating that dialogue is ongoing to resolve the matter amicably. No arrests have been reported so far.
