Entry of religious preachers barred in two Kanker villages amid conversion fears

 

 

 

In a striking display of grassroot protests, residents of Bansla and Junwani villages under Bhanupratappur block in Kanker district have unanimously prohibited the entry of Christian evangelists into their settlements, citing serious concerns over religious conversions targeting tribal communities. The resolution, passed through Gram Sabha consensus, led to the installation of prominent warning boards at the village boundaries. The boards explicitly declare that no pastor, missionary, or religious preacher is allowed to enter the village premises. Villagers assert that these measures are vital to protect their cultural heritage and traditional identity, which they believe is at risk from external religious influences. According to several villagers, outsiders have allegedly been attempting to lure tribal families under the guise of religious discourse, which, they claim, threatens the social fabric and ancestral practices that have defined their way of life for generations.

 

While the local administration has been alerted, it has so far refrained from issuing an official statement. However, sources indicate that the situation is being closely monitored to ensure communal harmony and law-and-order stability in the region. The controversy has triggered a wider political response. Bhojraj Nag, BJP Member of Parliament from Kanker, issued a stern warning, stating, “Those violating the constitutional framework under the guise of religious rights will face FIRs. The Constitution must be read in totality, not selectively.” He further added that RTI replies from district officials confirm that there are no officially documented Christian converts in Jamgaon village, raising questions over the legitimacy of demands for churches or burial grounds. Nag cautioned that any attempt to replicate the socio-political templates of Nagaland or Mizoram in Bastar under religious pretence “will never be tolerated by society.” He urged community youth and public representatives to stand vigilant against covert efforts to undermine tribal unity.