The final journey of a 95-year-old man in Odisha's Balasore district was tragically interrupted for nearly two days, as his body lay in a coffin awaiting burial. A bitter dispute erupted between family members and villagers in Rangamatia over the religious rituals to be followed, highlighting deep-seated tensions around conversion and tradition.
The Heart of the Conflict: Christian Rituals vs. Adivasi Customs
The deceased, Chhuta Hansda, passed away late on Wednesday night. However, his last rites could not be performed until Friday afternoon. The core of the dispute centered on his younger son, Bhim Hansda. Bhim, who had converted to Christianity approximately 15 years ago, insisted on burying his father according to Christian customs. His specific wish was to place the body in a coffin and conduct the burial in the backyard of their family home.
This proposal met with fierce opposition from other villagers. They strongly objected to a burial being conducted within the village premises, arguing it went against local norms. "The villagers did not allow us to perform his last rites according to our faith," a distressed Bhim Hansda stated.
Police Intervention and a Familial Deadlock
As tensions escalated, Bhim approached the Raibania police and local revenue authorities, seeking permission for the burial. The officials reportedly granted their consent. However, this did not break the impasse. The conflict took another turn when other members of the Hansda family also raised objections to the Christian burial plan.
This left Chhuta Hansda's body unattended for several hours, caught in a crossfire of faith and tradition. Village head Samurai Hansda clarified the community's stance, explaining that the objection was not personal but ritualistic. "We objected to the last rites being performed according to Christian rituals. Had it been done following Adivasi customs, there would have been no opposition," he said.
Administration Mediates a Fragile Resolution
Fearing a potential law-and-order situation, a police team led by SDPO Subrat Kumar Behera and the IIC of Raibania police station visited the village on Thursday evening. Additional personnel were deployed to maintain peace.
Despite prolonged negotiations through Thursday and into Friday, a solution remained elusive. "The administration made all efforts to ensure that no disturbance or confrontation took place," SDPO Behera explained. Finally, after extensive discussions, a consensus was reached.
The last rites were ultimately performed on Friday afternoon according to Christian rituals. However, the burial did not take place in the family's backyard. Instead, it was conducted at a separate site specifically demarcated by the revenue officials, a compromise that acknowledged both the family's wishes and the villagers' concerns.
To address the underlying dispute and prevent future conflicts, the administration has planned a follow-up. "The Jaleswar tehsildar will convene a meeting of both parties in the coming days to address the dispute and ensure peaceful coexistence in the village," SDPO Behera added, hoping to mend the social fabric torn by the two-day ordeal.
