1998 Ramgiri-Udaygiri violence

The 1998 Ramgiri-Udaygiri violence was an incident of violence that took place in the town of Ramgiri-Udaygiri in Gajapati District, Odisha on December 8, 1999. Two prisoners who were arrested for dacoity were murdered by a mob of 5000 tribal people after breaking into the sub-jail. In a separate case, a mob of 500 people looted and burned down 92 to 111 Christian houses and 2 Churches on the same day. 27 people were arrested.

The rivalry between two trade unions, one known as Mozdur Sangha led by a Christian man and the other Utkal Sangha started by a local leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) started communal tensions between both the communities in the town. The leader of the Mozdur Sangha who had a criminal record was arrested for looting a bus which carried tribal people to their work. The agitated tribal people staged various demonstrations on December 6 and December 7 to get back their money and to take the arrested men to a people's court. On December 8 they attacked the sub-jail as they found their demands were not taken seriously by the local administration. After this, a mob attacked the Christian settlement unexpectedly. All of the arrested were Sangh Parivar activists, members of the Utkal Sangh and members politically close to Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram and other Sangh-affiliates.

The investigation by the All India Federation of Organizations for Democratic Rights reported both were separated incidents. The investigation reported that the Sangh Parivar and the Utkal Sangh seized the opportunity of the agitation by the tribal people to attack the Christian settlement.