Sundergarh, Odisha: In yet another chilling episode of mob violence, two Catholic brothers from Telanadihi village in Sundergarh district were mercilessly assaulted by cow vigilantes on fabricated charges of cattle smuggling. The victims, identified as Johann Soren (66) and his younger brother Philip Soren (55), were left with severe injuries after being beaten unconscious by a mob of around 16 men on Malipada Road.
The Sorens, both ordinary Christians struggling to make ends meet, had sold their bulls and calves in Kodomal village for ₹40,000, hoping to cover urgent family expenses, including medical treatment for Johann’s ailing wife. On their way to meet the trader on August 19, they were first confronted by two youths near Baragach Square. After explaining that they had sold the cattle lawfully, the men appeared satisfied and left.
But moments later, the same youths returned with reinforcements. The mob accused the brothers of cow smuggling and unleashed a brutal assault, thrashing them with sticks, kicking them repeatedly, and leaving them bleeding on the roadside. The terrified brothers said they were threatened with further violence if they dared to continue selling cattle in the future.
The attack was reported by Catholic Connect, the media arm of the Latin Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CCBI), which condemned the incident as part of a disturbing trend of rising hostility against Christians in Odisha and beyond.
Human rights groups have long warned that false accusations of cow slaughter and smuggling are increasingly being weaponized against religious minorities and marginalized communities. For Christians like the Sorens, this has meant not only fear of violence but also the curtailment of their basic right to livelihood.
This latest assault underscores growing concerns over targeted violence in the state, recalling past incidents of communal aggression that left deep scars on Odisha’s Christian community.