INDIA Chhattisgarh, Hindu relatives killed a young woman for being Christian

The murder took place in the village of Toylanka, where the conversion to Christianity of a branch of the family had not been accepted by the rest of the clan. The woman was beaten to death while she was working in the field. Relatives even opposed her burial.

Raipur (India) – A 22-year-old Christian woman, Bindu Sodhi, was beaten to death by fanatical Hindu relatives because of her Christian faith. The murder took place on June 24 in Toylanka village, Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh.

In their complaint to the district police chief, the deceased’s family members said their family had been harassed and threatened by other relatives ever since they converted to Christianity four years ago. The victims insist that despite earlier complaints by Sodhi’s family to the local police station, no action had been taken against the harassers.

When the rainy season began, some relatives reportedly prohibited them from cultivating the fields, but Sodhi’s family went out anyway to plow and sow. Enraged, the fanatical relatives attacked them with spears and axes. The tractor driver and some other members of the group managed to escape, but the young woman did not. Two men caught up with her, attacked her and killed her.

According to the complaint, the family was also prevented from burying her on site. Sadly, in Indian villages it is common for Hindu extremists to deny Christian families the right to bury their family members unless they return to Hinduism.

However, there is a judgment of the Chhattisgarh High Court on April 24 which reiterated that “Article 21 of the Indian Constitution includes the right of a person to a dignified burial.” “The right to life,” the judges say, “entails respect for human dignity… and this right extends to a deceased person as well.”

Photo: Flickr / James Hansen (CCAFS)