The naxalites have asked the tribals of Bastar division of Chhattisgarh not to preach or practice any religion or be engaged in any worship saying that would disturb the century old culture and tradition of the tribals.
"Tribals are not Hindus. They have their own religion and practising any other religion would hamper the tribal's culture or tradition because of which the Maoists are opposing that," Naxal leader Rajman Mandavi told reporters in the forest of Dantewada district recently.
The naxals were making efforts to make the tribals aware of that, he added.
Meanwhile, official sources said the naxalites were also opposing any kind of conversion of tribals in Bastar region.
As a part their movement, naxalites had opposed worship of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga even at public places recently in various parts of Bastar division and even damaged some puja mandaps, the sources told PTI.
Some temples had also been vandalised, including a Sun temple in Kohkameta village of Narayanpur Police Station area of Bastar district recently by the naxalites, they said.
In Pujari Kanker village of Dantewada district, the Maoists had damaged God Shankar's idol, the sources said.
The ultras had also targeted Christians, issuing leaflets in Darbaguda area of Konta Police Station of Dantewada district asking them not to conduct `Changai sabha' or any other Christian mass gathering and prayer, the sources said.