Man Allegedly Assaulted and Humiliated Over Religious Conversion Accusation in Odisha

A man in Odisha's Dhenkanal district was allegedly beaten and publicly humiliated by a mob following accusations of religious conversion. The incident, which took place on January 4, prompted the victim's wife to file a complaint. She alleged that a group of 15 to 20 people attacked their home, falsely accusing her husband of religious conversion, severely beating him with bamboo sticks, parading him through the village, and forcing him to bow before a shrine. Police have detained four individuals in connection with the case and are conducting an investigation. While several witness statements have been recorded, police stated that initial findings indicate the claim of forcing the victim to drink drain water was false. The victim has undergone medical examination, and authorities have assured strict action against the culprits.