From Zenit: India's Anti-Christian December Offensive

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Where are the authorities in all of this? If local authorities are complicit, surely state or “federal” (not sure of the Indian equivalent) authorities must step in. Sad that the concept of non-violence seems to have flown with the wind…

Where are the voices of other Catholics around the world? We are not called to rampage in the streets when our faith is insulted, but surely we can raise our voices when our brothers and sisters are being persecuted for their faith?
 
seekerz said:
Where are the authorities in all of this? If local authorities are complicit, surely state or “federal” (not sure of the Indian equivalent) authorities must step in. Sad that the concept of non-violence seems to have flown with the wind…

Where are the voices of other Catholics around the world? We are not called to rampage in the streets when our faith is insulted, but surely we can raise our voices when our brothers and sisters are being persecuted for their faith?
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Dear Seekerz
It is most unfortunate that the Indian media puts down only the Hindu side of the events, the international media callously ignores Orissa entirely, based on the personal mails pouring in from priests and the calls made by me, it is quite apparent that 2 nuns at least have been raped, 1 priest burnt struggling for life with 70% burns, 2 priests abducted, many badly beaten to an inch of death. Many others dead with few reports coming out of that impoverished part of India. The Baptists and Pentecostals are facing as much violence.
The hindu mobs have openly challenged the police to save any priests and nuns they can. What I hear is that priests and nuns are made special targets of these attacks, your government (I assume) is silent as it wishes to push the Indo-US nuclear deal. The Vatican and the Italian Senate has condemned these events, but the violence continues.

As for non-violence it is merely a facade, the Indian Union is nearly as bad as any Islamic country as far as its human rights record is concerned. The police in the entire history of India have never fired on hindu rioters with an intent to disperse. This is not a riot as the indian media speaks it is genocide.
Please pray
God bless
Derrick
 
CHRISTIANS IN DEEP TROUBLE

Fr. Pius Fernandes SJ, Bhubaneshwar
[The burning and looting is continuing even as he writes this article (Aug 26, 10.00pm).]

Bhubaneshwar Aug 26 : Today’s attacks were triggered by the killing of a prominent Hindu leader this past weekend. On Saturday, August 23rd, Swami Laxanananda Saraswati along with five other people was shot dead in his Jalaspeta Ashram near Tumudibandha (Kandhamal District, Orissa). Naxalite groups, especially prominent in this region, have taken credit for the attacks. The Swami was 84 years old and was especially known for violently opposing cow slaughter and conversion to Christianity. He is also believed to have orchestrated the Christmas 2007 riot against Christians in the Kandhamal district of Orissa which has left thousands of Christians homeless to this day. In retaliation for the August 23rd killings the VHP and its allied political families called for a bandh (road blockade) for the 25th of August.

In retaliation for the Swami’s death, the extremist wing of the VHP has engaged in a series of attacks against Christians which started on 23 rd and are expected to continue.

On 23rd evening immediately after the news of murder of Swami Laxmanaadada Saraswati spread in the district, two sisters of Precious Blood congregation at Kothaguda who were on their way to Berhampur were stopped near G. Udayagiri, pulled out from the vehicle. Vehicle was then set on fire and the driver was severely beaten up. Almost at the same time a vehicle carrying HM sisters near Ainthapally in Sambalpur, a prayer chapel at Tentuliapadar in Sundargarh was also burned and destroyed. With these incidents, the stories of violence, abuse and attacks continue with several churches, church institutions, priests, **Nuns, Christian people and their houses being attacked, abused, ransacked, and torched. **
As the impact of the news started getting visible across the state, government got into action by announcing prohibitory orders (144 Section) in Kandhamal district. This was also a preparatory action by the state government ahead of the 12-hour bandh called by the VHP and other affiliates of the Sangh Parivar on 25th august to protest the killing.

On Sunday morning 24th August 2008, prayers in many churches were disrupted with very few participants attending the mass fearing attacks.

From the same day attacks in Kandhamal district intensified. It was the turn of Janvikas office like many other offices which were burnt to ashes during the violence in December 2007. Jan Vikas is a social wing of the Archdiocese of Cuttack Bhubaneswar and works towards empowerment of the most marginalised in the districts. A mob attacked, ransacked the office and set fire burning down three four wheelers, six motor cycles, all the important records and documentation of the organisation and office equipment. This incident took place at 5.30 in the evening.

After this, the mob continued their assaults at Divya Jyoti Pastoral Centre by gutting, burning and looting the same at about 6 p.m. The same group entered the Baliguda presbytery, convent and hostel damaging the properties.

In similar attacks, the Roman Catholic Church at Kanjamedi was attacked and vandalized at 6.30 p.m. The Diocesan Church at Kanjamedi was ransacked and other three Pentecostals churches were destroyed in the same way at 6.45 p.m. by the same group. In the late evening, about 12 Dalit Christian shops were burnt to ashes in Raikia.

On 25th August 2008 as the Bandh lead to many protests, rastha rokos, tyre burning etc., the following incidents of violence shook the whole state and the Christian community. At 7.00 a.m, Phulbani Church and presbytery were vandalized and ransacked. Srasanda MC Brother’s residence was attacked and the patients who came there to get treatment were beaten up and the VHP activists continued to burn houses and household articles of Christian families in the area. Eight houses were completely destroyed in this incident.

On the same day at 10.30 a.m houses of Christian families in Christiansahi in Balliguda were destroyed and ransacked. The details of damage and the numbers are not available as yet. In a similar incident houses in Nuasahi were set on fire destroying the whole street where Christian families lived. This incident took place at 11.30 a.m.

Two boys studying in the church run hostel were caught in Baliguda and their heads were tonsured.

In the afternoon at about 1.00 pm Jamaj Parichha’s house was attacked and his vehicles were set ablaze, doors were cut into pieces and he was beaten up by the mob. He sustained severe head injury and is hospitalised (place is not disclosed because of the security reasons). It is said that he is one of the primary targets of the hindutva forces in the area. His wife being a Hindu pleaded the mob to spare him and even showed that she practices Hinduism but they showed no mercy continued beating him up and said “he is a Christian and we will kill him”.

As this incident happened, houses of the staffs of Jan Vikas (Diocesan organisation under the Arch Diocese of Cuttack- Bhubaneswar) were also burnt. Five staffs are directly affected by this violence and all of them fled their villages and went into hiding.

In a very similar way, at 2 pm the house of Puren Nayak resident of Bhudansahi was attacked and burnt into ashes. All his assets were removed from the house and were set on fire in a pile. . As the violence continued in the village, mob ransacked the Christian houses burnt all their belongings. The women (Hindu) in the community were identifying the houses to be burnt down as the mob followed their instructions. Women also supplied kerosene to encourage the mob.

The strategy used by the mob is very similar. The household articles and assets are brought outside the house and are set on fire. This is because under Indian Penal code section 436, the person/persons involved in burning the house are punishable with 7 years+ of rigorous imprisonment and this falls under the category of a non bailable offence. And when the assets/belonging are brought outside the house and burnt, it’s a bailable offense and the punishment is limited to 6 months to one year of imprisonment. This offense falls under IPC 435.

Fr. Challan, Director of Pastoral centre, Kanjamendi and Sr. Meena, administrator of the centre which was burnt and ransacked on 24th escaped from the centre to hide in Jashawanta Pradhan’s house. On 25th, mob having the information about this forcefully entered the house dragging both of them outside. They were beaten up badly and taken to the police fundi (smaller unit of police station) in the area. It is reported that they were tied up in the fundi and were threatened of being burnt alive. There is no update about their condition since then.

Paul Pradhan who runs an NGO in the district and works for the rights of dalits and adivasis was also attacked in his house, office was destroyed completely.

It is also reported that most of the Christian houses in Tikkabali block were attacked and set fire. Numbers are still unknown.

One person called Vikram Nayak was cut into pieces at Tiagian under G Udaygiri police station. Other two sustained injuries while no medication facilities have been made available and it is reported that both two persons were died. In Tiangia village under the same police station limits, houses of Christian families were set on fire and people have fled to jungle. It was reported that the miscreants have been following them and were attacking.

On 25th late night, Sankrakhol Parish church and presbytery were set fire and ransacked, the parish priest Fr. Alexandar Chandi left to the nearest forest and he was saved. It is reported that his most of the assets are set fire and church is completely destroyed.

Fr. Bernard Digal who had gone to visit Fr. Alexandar Chandi was held up in Sankrakhol parish when the mob attacked the church. His Marshal Jeep was set fire. While narrating the incident Fr.Bernard said that when the mob enters the church premise they left to the forest and hid themselves. They were safe but the vehicle was set fire. He walked around 10.K.M to reach one of his relations house. As he was walking the attackers saw him but could not recognise.

On 25th August late night the Convent of St.Joseph’s at Sankrakhole was attacked and ransacked. Sisters also left to the forest and have saved their life.
On 25th August 2008, Abenswar Digal’s house is set fire, under Tikabali Police station.
In Raikia, attacks are on as of 11.30 p.m. and the nature of damage is yet to be known. As per the first information report reveals that on 25th August late evening at Raikia 17 Christian houses were ransacked. Most of the house articles and assets were removed from the house and gather outside and set fire. As per the first hand report the victims identified were Mr. Bijay Parichha, Mr. R.K.Nayak, Mr. Joseph Nayak, Mr. Susant Dal Behera, Mr. Santosh Nayak, Mr. Santun Nayak, Mr. Harihar Das, Mr. Mosesh Nayak, Mr. Prakash Nayak, Mr. Raju Parichha and others.

On 25th August 2008 late night The Ambasodar Vehicle of Mr. Sukant Nayak, Director Shahara (NGO), was set fire.
On 25 th August 2008 late night The Office of Karuna (NGO), under Raikia Police station were ransacked.
On 25th afternoon the Pentecostal church at Budamaha, under Raikia Polic station was vandalized and ransacked.
On 25th August 2008, Masadkia church was vandalized and ransacked.
On 25th August 2008, two Pentecostal churches were vandalized and ransacked.
On 25th August 2008, Pisermaha Church, under Raikia Police station was vandalized and ransacked.
On 25th August 2008, Baptist church and R.C Church at Mondakia under Raikia Police station was vandalized and ransacked.
On 25th August 2008, Mdahupanga Church, under Raikia Police station was vandalized and ransacked.
**As the violence continues, most of the parish priests and sisters are still not reachable and their conditions are not known. The **houses are being burnt in several places in Phulbani, Srasanada, Pobingia, Balliguda and Konjamendi.

In Bhubaneswar, the impact of the Bandh was also felt severely by people with most of the office being closed, shops stayed closed as well. Transportation was totally disrupted and tyres were burnt in many places across the city. There were huge rallies by the supporters of VHP and Bajrangdal on the main roads and junctions.

There were also some cases of attacks reported within the city and most of these attacks were on churches and church related institutions. From early morning of 25th onwards violent mobs made several attempts to enter the compound of Catholic Church and Archbishop’s house in the city with a view to attack. Policemen deployed at the scene disbursed the mob and stopped them from entering the campus. Angry mob threw stones at the guest house of Archbishop’s House, damaging some windows panes.

Another group of fundamentalists entered presbytery in Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and destroyed and damaged property. Two priests of the said parish Fr. Xavier and Fr. Simon are missing and they were about are yet to be found. Institutions like XIMB, St. Arnold’s School and NISWASS have suffered some damage while one Baptist Church in Akamra Jila in the city was also damaged.

Situation seems to be very serious and worsening by every hour with violence being intensified. From across the districts, people are trying to flee to the safer places. But nothing seems be safe as of now. The violence can turn more intense as the people return after Swami’s cremation.

Other events that took place in Rayagada, Gajapati, Koraput and other south Orissa districts left Christians and Christian institutions throughout the state fearful. Father Obed Khura of Sunebeda received three threatening calls. While he approached the Sunebeda OIC, has was refused police protection and was sent back with assurance that the school he runs will not be attacked and was instructed to stay away from the school.
 
****Fr PIUS SJ
In Muniguda (closer to Tumudibandha, Rayagada district), as the mass was coming to an end two jeep loads of youth from the town entered the compound and started shouting slogans. The police arrived on time and prevented the situation from escalating. Three policemen have been deployed at the gate which has been destroyed. The Church and Convent at Muniguda could not be saved. Around 80 inmates under the leadership of Fr. Pius Ekka and Sr. Marina Chacko have taken refuge in the forest. This happened inspite of the fact that Fr. Marshal Mihir Upasi was constantly in touch with the State Control Office of the Orissa Police and the SP of Rayagada. The mob first torched the police Jeep in Muniguda and then proceeded to the Convent and Church. On the previous day (24th of August) the mob threatened the Fathers after Sunday Mass. The mob sought out the houses holding Christian families and managed to destroy some of them. As a consequence allowing refuge to families has placed others at risk.

As the mob moved on from Bhairaguda, 3 km away from Muniguda to seek shelter in a school while raining, the villagers from the hindu community fed them. This took place at 7.20 pm.

Expecting an attack Fr. Manickthan, Bhawanipatna asked for protection, the SP expressed his inability to do anything due to the size of the mob. When Father suggested the SP on announcing curfew in the area and stop the mob’s movement, the angry SP retorted saying that Fr. need not give orders to him. Later in the forenoon both the ADM and the SP visited the Church compound and inspected the law and order situation. The Malankara hostel was attacked in Bhawanipatna, not far from the Catholic Church, and many children have been badly hurt.

Missionaries of Charity from Dharmagarh, unaware of the events from the previous night, were travelling to Bhawanipatna for Sunday Mass. Near the jail in Bhawanipatna town their ambulance was intercepted and pelted with stones. All the sisters sustained minor injuries from the stones and broken glass. The police arrived and sent them back in the same damaged vehicle to Dharmagarh. Sr. Suma and Sr. Nirmala have been informed of this and the district administration has assured them of protection.

A group of police are guarding the Church in Jeypore after the threat of oncoming attacks. The police informed Fr. Bimol Nayak that some 200 people are preparing to attack the Church. Fr. Bimol Nayak and another Brother have taken shelter with nearby friends. Around 24 policemen are guarding the church compound in Mohana after road blocks started on Sunday evening. Additionally, a group of 9 police men are safeguarding the Church in Goudogotho and the Cathedral.

It is also reported that the Lutheran Church in Malkangiri, Padua, and Gunupur were destroyed. Fathers and Sisters along with the children in Gumuda have left the mission stations fearing attacks. On the 24th as the Congregation was coming out of the Church in Malkangiri, a group of angry youth harassed them and forced them to recite Bande Mataram. 22 Christian Families of Shanti Nagar (Givindapur) at the foothill of Taptapani Hot Spring were also assaulted and forced to leave the village.

In Boudh also, a group of protestors entered the parish and destroyed things and property. Communal tension was high also in other districts across the state with several incidents of attacks against the people as well as property. In Balasore, Balsore Social Service Society (official social wing of the Balasore diocese) was attacked three times during the day on 25th august. The mob shouting slogans broke all the window panes and destroyed a statue of Mother Mary which was installed in the BSSS office campus. Badrak also had few incidents of attacks but the details are not known.

Hindu protestors attacked Jyoti Niketan of Baipariguda in Koraput district in the afternoon of 25th August. Father Joy Areeckal had to run into the forest and the hostel children and his social workers are subjected to insults and intimidation. The Mission has been destroyed along with all that it contained. A sad twist to the story is that the police along with the people seized wooden planks in spite of the fact that the carpenters who are building a new hostel building in the campus there claimed that it was bought by them. Consequently, a criminal case may be filed against Fr. Areeckal under the Forest Act.

Mr. Routo Desinayak and Ms. Kalyani, who works for an agro-entrepreneursh ip program for SWAD at Boipariguda were also arrested under the forest protection act. Though the Police Officer and the Block Development Officer was not willing, the mob forced the police to tie Mr. Desinayak with a rope and drag him through the street up to the Forest Office. Miss Kalyani being a woman was spared of this ordeal. Fr. Thomas Chelan and a Sister (name could not be obtained) who were manhandled and humiliated by the mob have been kept in police custody in the pretext of giving security since the morning of August 25th.

In Govindapally, close to Boipariguda, protestors entered the Convent and damaged the grotto of Our Lady and the Cross of the Church yard. In the same district Fathers and Sisters in Koraput, Jeypore and Semiliguda are in hiding.

In Bargarh district, a mob of about 2000 people went around ransacking many church institutions and there were serious attacks on priests and nuns. In Padampur, Fr. Edward Sequira was attacked and was beaten up brutally. He survived with serious head injury and still unconscious. “His life is under critical still” said Fr. Alphonse Toppo, Vicar Gerneral of Sambalpur diocese. The institution which caters to children affected by Leprosy was attacked and burnt. While the institution burnt to ashes, along with it also burnt was the auxiliary nurse Rajani Majhi 20 year old, who took care of the children in the institute and was studying in Padampur Women’s College.

Sundargarh also saw many such incidents of church burning and attacks on church properties damages are yet to be ascertained.

In Sambalpur district, HM Sister’s residence of Ainthapalli has suffered damage while priests are given warnings of attacks in Madhupur, Badibahal area. Stone pelting and breaking of window panes of churches and related institutions was a common scene across the state.

In continuation to all this violence across the state, Dibyasingh Pariccha, PRO and Secretary, Justice and Peace Commission (Arch Diocese of Cuttak Bhubaneswar) has condemned the killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and appealed for a CBI enquiry into the incident. He requested that culprits responsible for the incident be punished instead of attacking the whole Christian community.

He appealed to the government to deploy adequate forces to safeguard life and property of Christian people.
**
It is reported that people are suffering from with out food, cloth and shelter. Last night, there was heavy rain and people were in the forest with the wet cloth. However, the condition of the children and women were indescribable. School children are deprived of their studies**.😦
 
******Holy See Decries Anti-Christian Violence in India

Hindu Extremists Start Wave of Attacks

zenit.org/article-23473?l=english**

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 26, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican is speaking out against a wave of anti-Christian violence in eastern India, which has already caused perhaps as many as eight deaths.

In a communiqué today, the Holy See formally appealed for an end to the violence against Christian communities in India,
 
PARLAMENTO. INTERVENTO DI SCHIFANI SULLA STRAGE IN INDIA
agopress.info/vis_news00.asp?id_news=162991
Caution my bad translation
“Ferocious attacks happened today in India that has seen the horrific murder of a lay nun who operated in a orphanage, and the serious wounding of a catholic clergyman, they represent a new page of religious and inter racial intolerance”. These the words said in parliament from the president of the Senate, Renato Schifani, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renato_Schifani he is the president of the Italian Senate] with respect to the news of the tragic events which occurred in the state of Orissa, India. “These are totally criminal and uncivilised actions - Schifani has declared - it must be condemned wholeheartedly and that throws light again on the problem of the security of the catholic missionaries in the world, who daily strive to help the needy practically living the teachings of the Gospel at the risk of their own lives”.
 
******India: Violence against Christians sweeps Orissa again
Posted by Press release on 27/8/2008, 1:14 pm
ACN News, Wednesday, 27th August 2008 – INDIA

Violence against Christians sweeps Orissa again
• Priests and sisters tortured, stripped and paraded in public
• Churches burnt and people forced to flee their homes
• Extremists warn of more attacks to come

By John Newton

members4.boardhost.com/acnaus/msg/1219806859.html
The charity was told that a religious Sister working at the pastoral centre in the Archdiocese of Bhubaneswar was gang-raped before the building was blown up with explosives.

The pastoral centre’s director and a religious Sister fled advancing mobs but were chased down in the house of a local Catholic. Both the director, who is a priest, and the Sister were “stripped and paraded in public” before being handed over to the police. **
 
****in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINBOM19370920080827?sp=true
Three more killed as Indian religious riots spread
Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:41pmBy Jatindra Dash
BHUBANESWAR, India, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Three bodies were found overnight in an eastern Indian state racked by clashes between Hindus and Christians, taking the death toll to 11, as violence spread to new districts on Wednesday, police said.
 
****Christianity in Orissa is being burnt at the stake - Anonymous
humanrightsindia.blogspot.com/2008/08/christianity-in-orissa-is-being-burnt.html
This is an emergency. There is a pogrom-like campaign being carried out today in most districts of Orissa, with the worst situation in the central district of Kondhamal. All over the state, Churches and Christians are being systematically attacked. And the outside world doesn’t know.
Some of you may know that the district of Kandhamal (or Phulbani) in the middle of Orissa was racked by violence in December 2007, just 8 months ago. The violence erupted on Christmas Eve, when there was an attack on the cavalcade of Swami Saraswati, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. This happened on top of a mounting agitation by the tribal organization, Kui Samaj, against Dalits and their claim for tribal status. The two together made a potent combination. Almost immediately a cascade of events followed, with trees cut all over the district to close off roads, and mobs on a trail of destruction. Four days later, so much was lost – Churches, Christian NGO’s and infrastructure were selectively destroyed. In the fights that broke out at least 300 Hindu houses and 300 Christian houses were destroyed.

An Enquiry Commission was set up to probe into the violence. This last week we have seen news reports of people giving evidence to the Commission. Some have been alleging that the whole thing was pre-planned and orchestrated by the VHP. And in the middle of all this, an armed group of maybe 20-30 people broke into the Ashram of Swami Lokananda and shot him and 4 others. Press reports suggested this was the work of Maoists. The VHP says it was the Christians. Even as the body of the Swamiji was being brought to his home in procession for the funeral rites, a state-wide bandh was called. The Press reported that the Bandh was complete almost throughout Orissa, with all traffic stopped, trains held up, shops and offices closed, schools and colleges shut etc, while protest processions were taken out in most towns.

But what the media did not report was the huge campaign of violence that has been unleashed in district after district, and town after town. The district of Kondhamal was cut off exactly as was done in December, but this time the reports coming out are of vicious violence, targeting Christians and their homes; priests and nuns; Churches and Christian Organisations. We are hearing desperate cries from friends in the districts ; one girl whose house was destroyed with a bomb last evening ; she and her family are hiding in the forest now. Another of our girls, saying her house has been burned down and she can’t locate her family members. Another called to say nuns are being raped and priests kidnapped. There are reports of arson and destruction of Churches from all over Orissa – Boipariguda and Narayanpatna in Koraput District, Umerkote in Nabarangapur District, Muniguda and Bissamcuttack in Rayagada District, Padampur in Bargarh District and so on. The news we are getting is that the Police and the District Administrations are trying their best to control situations, but they are far too few in the face of simultaneous movement of multiple mobs.
All sorts of agendas and scores are being settled under the cover of a “spontaneous backlash”. It is neither spontaneous or a backlash. The innocent are made scape-goats.
I write this as night is falling on the 25th of August 2008. Officially the Bandh is over. Roads are being cleared and traffic is beginning to move. But will the violence end ? And who will count the losses ? Or do we just go back to work as usual. Does India care ? The National Press is busy with J&K, and Singur and Beijing. We are too insignificant to warrant reporting. But Information is our only hope. The news must be publicized. People outside have to know what is happening. And so I write to you. Please look and listen. And pray for us. (Given the risks involved, I prefer not to put my name on to this piece)
 
****Pope deplores anti-Christian violence in India
27 Aug 2008 09:49:11 GMT Source: Reuters By Philip Pullella
alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LR186342.htm
VATICAN CITY, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Wednesday condemned spiralling violence against Christians in India but also deplored the killing of a Hindu leader that sparked clashes.

Benedict said he was profoundly saddened by the violence that has left as least 11 people dead, nearly all Christians, and by destruction of Christian homes, churches and orphanages at the hands of Hindu mobs in eastern Orissa state.

“While I firmly condemn every attack on human life, whose sacredness required respect by all, I express my spiritual closeness and solidarity to the brothers and sisters in the faith who are so sorely tried,” he told pilgrims and tourists at his week general audience.
 
Mr. B. D. Das, from Cuttack, Orissa.
Dear Sir/Madam,

Today the Christian community in the state of Orissa has experienced another communal violence by the members of the Sangh Pariwar in spite of precaution taken by the state authorities. The incident occurred during the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) statewide bandh (shutdown) in Orissa to protest against the murder of its leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a member of VHP’s central advisory committee, and four other people who were killed at his Jalespata ashram in Kandhamal district in Kandhamal, Orissa by more than 30 suspected Maoist rebels on Saturday.

People resorted to road blockades from Saturday night and continued till this evening. Vehicular movements at various places of the state were affected due to the demonstration of the activists of Bajrangdal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, RSS, Hindu Jagaran Morcha and, supported by the BJP, a ruling coalition partner.

Trains were also detained by the activists at various railway stations and roads were blocked. Meanwhile high alert was sounded in entire state following the assassination of the religious leader and security arrangement was made to safe guarding the place of worship/ churches. However the forces were inadequate and were not able to prevent any kind of un-lawful activities of the activist in the entire state.

Several churches and prayer halls were torched, police outposts were attacked and about 20 vehicles damaged in the communally sensitive state during the bandh. Several educational Institutions, Christian shops and houses were damaged and two police outposts were ransacked.

Activists accompanying body of the slain leader defied curfew and held processions passing through Phulbani town, attacking churches, houses and vehicles of one community in the presence of the police. The place of worships were desecrated, women were burnt and raped and Christian priests were subjected to inhuman torture. Christians were burnt alive. Many villagers are now hiding in the forests to save their lives. The Christian institutions have been closed down due to security reason.

The law and order situation in the state is completely paralyzed. If the situation is not handled properly it may mount to an unmanageable magnitude. To address this issue at this juncture it is warranted that, either the CRPF or the Army in adequate strength be deployed to restore the law and order situation. Appended below please find some of the information we have received. Kindly pray for the restoration of peace in the state of Orissa.

Heinous incidents by the erratic mob
  • 3 numbers of churches are burnt in Dumerguda, Talsara, Sundergarh.
  • Catholic Church in Phulbani was burnt.
  • Baptist church in Phulbani was attacked and all furniture was burnt.
  • Houses (Christians) were attacked in Phulbani.
  • Pastor’s and Asst. Pastor’s houses were burnt in Phulbani.
  • 3 numbers of CNI churches were attacked in Kandhmal.
  • Church in Koraput was burnt.
  • Ichhapur Carmel School in Bhadrak was attacked and school buses were broken.
  • World Vision Office in Bhawanipatna was attacked and the office vehicle was burnt.
  • A family in Bhawanipatna was attacked.
  • A church in Jeypore was attacked’
  • Two schools and hostels in Muniguda were attacked and burnt.
  • The Catholic Church at Satyanagar, Bhubaneswar was attacked.
  • The CNI church in Chandipali, Bargarh was attacked.
  • A Pentecostal church in Sambalpur was attacked.
  • NISWASS and XIM in Bhubaneswar were attacked.
  • A church and about 20 numbers of houses were burnt and a person named Rasananda Pradhan was killed in Rupagaon, near Chakapada.
  • Christian houses in Nuasahi, Baliguda were damaged.
  • In Khuntapali, Padampur an Orphanage (Missionary House) was burnt, Father Edward & children sustained burn injuries and a lady staff was burnt alive to death. 22 numbers of inmates are untraceable.
  • The church and pastor’s house in Padampur were burnt.
  • Church in Sukinda was burnt.
  • A brethren church in Gosaninuagaon, Berhampur was attacked.
  • Office of the Compassion East India (NGO) in Bhubaneswar was attacked.
  • A church in Bhimaguda, Nabarangpur was attacked.
  • School and hostel in Madupur, Sohela, Bargarh was attacked.
  • School bus of the De Paul School, Berhampur was burnt.
  • Mission India Church at Jayadev Vihar, Bhubaneswar was burnt.
  • William Carey School in Jatni, NH-5 was attacked, 5 numbers of school buses were broken.
  • Church in Bidanasi, Cuttack was attacked; the cross was broken and is being taken forcefully by the fundamentalists.
  • A nun named Mina Barua was raped and a Father named Thomas Clave was made naked.
  • Church in Rayagada was damaged and a Jeep was burnt.
  • Church in Raikia was burnt.
Bibhu Dutta Das
Cuttack
 
****Burning and looting continues, Christians beaten and cut to pieces
by Nirmala Carvalho
asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=13067&size=A
Vikram Nayak was killed, and then cut to pieces. Two Christians die two days after suffering serious injuries. Unrest by radical Hindus continues as police is ordered to shoot on sight those who break the curfew. Two nuns who were attacked tell their stories; Catholic schools to close for a day; the faithful are called to observe a day of prayer and fasting
 
asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=13069&size=A
Faithful killed, homes and churches burned, thousands flee: pogrom of Indian Christians (OVERVIEW)
A tally from AsiaNews of the wave of violence that is rocking Orissa: the Christian community in the crosshairs of Hindu fundamentalists is counting the deaths, fires, destruction of property, and people taking refuge in the forest.

Bubaneshwar (AsiaNews) - AsiaNews is attempting an initial tally of the wave of violence that has shaken Orissa since the evening of August 23, between 9 and 10 o’clock, with the killing of Hindu fundamentalist leader Swami Laxanananda Saraswati and five of his followers. The information has been obtained from: the justice and peace commission of the diocese of Kuttack-Bhubaneswar, the All India Christian Council, and the Global Council of Indian Christians (Protestant).**
 
Update on Orissa from the CBCI Media/Information Office

More Churches and Christian institutions attacked in Orissa. No let up in violence. Christians including priests and nun are targeted by the fundamentalist groups.

New Delhi, August 27, 2008.

The situation in Kandhamal District and other parts of Orissa continues to be tense and the Christians in the State are living in fear and anxiety. The law enforcing agencies have not been able to contain the violent elements that are still at large. The violent mob is destroying churches, orphanages, hostels of children, Convents of the religious women and the houses of Christian families. There appears a sense of helplessness among the Christian community that has borne the brunt of the communal frenzy created by some fundamentalist organizations.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has condemned the brutal murder of Swami Lakshmanand and had clearly denied any role of Christians in his murder but it seems that the fundamentalists are taking advantage of the situation and attacking Christians. Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi along with Fr. Babu Joseph, Fr. Thomas Sequeira and members from the National Council of Churches in India and Evangelical Fellowship of India led a delegation to call on Home Minster Shri Shivraj Patil on August 25 to urge him to intervene in Orissa at the earliest. On August 26, 2008, a press conference was held at the C.B.C.I Centre, New Delhi which was jointly addressed by Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi along with Fr. Thomas D’Aquino Sequeira, Fr. Babu Joseph, Rev. Richard Howell of EFI and Ms. Sushma Ramaswami of NCCI.

In a circular to the Catholic Bishops of India on August 26, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, President of CBCI has urged all the Catholic Educational Institutions to be closed on August 29 to show solidarity with the victims of violence in Orissa and observe September 7 as the day of prayer and fast.

A CBCI delegation led by Archbishop Vincent called on Shri Jaswant Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on August 26 and briefed him about the latest development and the concerns of the Christian community in Orissa.

Meanwhile, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese has begun a 48 hour Dharna (Peaceful Protest) at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi from August 27 till August 29. Archbishop Vincent Concessao along with other dignitaries participated in the protest Dharna.

I am sending you the list of atrocities and destruction taken place so far in Orissa for your perusal. The list is compiled by the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar.
  1. Number of Death
Kandhamal District -12

Barakhama 6

Tiangia 2 (2 seriously injured)

Petapanga 1 (Raikia)

Tikaballi 1

Bodimunda 1

Bakingia 1

Bargard District- 1

Padanpur 1(Kantapali)
  1. Number of Church destroyed
Petapanga Church
Mondakia Church
Catholic Church Rotangia
Believers church Ratingia
Diocese Church Ratingia
Believers Church Gimangia
Diocese Church Gimangia
Mdahukia Church
Catholic Church Raikia
Catholic Church Badimunda
Pentocastal Church Badimunda
Catholic Church Breka
Pentocastal Church Breka
Catholic Church Pobingia
Catholic church Srasanaanda
Catholic Church, Phulbani
Catholic Church, Betticola
Catholic Church Balliguda
Catholic Church Sankrakhol
Catholic Church
R.C. Church Kanjamedi
Diocese Church Kanjamedi
Pentecostal Church Kanjamedi
Pentecostal Church Jugapadar, Nuagam
Baptist Church Tumudiband
Pentecostal Church Tumudiband
Two Churches in Narayani patna
Catholic Church Muniguda
Catholic Church Padanpur
Church in Dhanpur
Catholic Church Tiangia
Baptist Church Tiangia
Catholic Church Gabindapali
Catholic Church Padua
Catholic Church Maliput
Catholic Church Duburi
Pentecostal Church, Tiangia
Catholic Church Modhupur
Catholic Church Nilungia
Pentecostal Church Nilungia
Catholic Church Boipariguda
  1. Houses damaged
  2. Balliguda Mundasahi
  3. Raikia-17 houses
  4. Badimunda- 9
  5. Gimangia-3
  6. Gumagarh-25
  7. Tiangia-Pdisuballi, Majumaha, Budedipada, Kolanaju, Mundanaju, Sipaeju, Laburi 160
  8. Beticola-10
  9. Nilungia – 15
  10. Balliguda Dumudisahi
  11. Balliguda Hatpada Sahi
  12. Raikia, Chunipalli
  13. Mondakia, Bakingkia
  14. Breaka (Sukanda)
  15. Bodimunda
  16. Rotingia
  17. Sankharkhole
  18. Tikaballi
  19. Convents
    St. Joseph’s Convent, Sankharkhole
    St. Anne’s Convent, Pobinga
    Mt. Carmel Convent, Balliguda
    St. Anne’s Convent, Padangi
  20. Hostels
    Padangi 2
    Pobigia -2
    Balliguda Convent -1
  21. Institutions
Pastoral Centre, Konjamendi
Janavikas
Poly Shree, Paburia
Gramya Pragati, Balliguda
Ajka, Raikia
Xavier Institution of Mangament
NISWASS, Bhubaneswar & Phulbani
  1. Vehicles (innumerable)
Report prepared by Rev. Dr. Babu Joseph, SVD,
Spokesperson, CBCI 9891308309
on August 27, 2008 at 3.00 p.m
 
HOW A 20 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS BURNT TO DEATH BY A CHEERING CROWD

Fr. Edward Sequeira, a priest belonging to the Society of Divine Word (SVD), was one of those who was seriously injured when his mission station was attacked by the mob in Orissa.

Currently recuperating at Burla Medical College Hospital, Sambalpur, Fr. Sequeira, upon gaining consciousness, narrated the story to his brother Commodore Valentine Sequeira who writes:

A large mob of more than 700 people were returning after attending the cremation of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati who was killed along with four others Saturday evening by suspected Maoist guerrillas at his Jalespata ashram.

The mob was chanting anti-Christian slogans and when they reached Padampur in Bargarh district, they attacked the orphanage where Fr Edward lived.

Ms. Rajni, a 20 year old student who lived in the orphanage and was also working as an auxiliary nurse in the orphanage confronted them.

When Fr Sequeira arrived at the spot, the mob locked him and Rajni into separate rooms, and ordered the children to vacate the orphanage. The mob then ransacked Fr Sequeira’s room, poured petrol on him, Rajni and set the orphanage on fire.

“I was engulfed in flames, I could hear the cries of Rajni and the mob was cheering and shouting through the windows,” recalls Fr Sequeira.

He however, managed to crawl to the bathroom, beat out the flames and closed the windows.

“When I started to suffocate I found a crack on the wall that was damaged in the attack and kept my nose there to breath some air. All the while I could hear the cries of Rajni from the next room where she was writhing in agony. After sometime, there was silence and I thought she must have managed to escape from the room,” recalled Fr Sequeira.

Unknown to Fr Edward, the girl was burnt alive and had breathed her last.

People from the neighborhood who heard the cries of children rushed to the rescue, broke the walls and brought him to safety. That is when the mob attacked him again outside the orphanage and beat him up mercilessly till he became unconscious. He was initially rushed to the hospital at Padampur and later with the help of local officials was shifted to Burla Medical College Hospital, in Sambalpur.
Courtesy: orissaburning.blogspot.com/
 
******Italy: Torchlit vigil planned for victims of religious fanaticism **

adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=1.0.2442643587
Rome, 28 August (AKI) - Moderate Catholic daily Liberal plans to hold a torchlit vigil in central Rome next month to express solidarity for the victims of religious fanaticism around the world.

“Italy lights a torch against the persecution of Christians,” ran a front-page headline in Thursday’s edition of the paper promoting the vigil.“We believe this issue does not only affect religious believers but all those who want basic human rights to be upheld throughout the word,” the Liberal editorial continues.
Several Italian politicians have already said they will attend the vigil, including Pier Ferdinando Casini, head of the centrist UDC party, and centre-left Democratic Party Senator Franco Marini.
 
US-based Institute takes India to task on violence against Christians in Orissa
app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50613&Itemid=2
“Because of the consistent lack of will on the central government’s part to protect religious freedom throughout India, the Institute recommends the United States name India as a “country of particular concern” this year. The legal designation identifies some of the worst religious violators in the world, and carries the threat of economic sanctions,” it said in a news release Wednesday.
“The latest violence in Orissa is just another indication of the central and state governments’ lack of commitment to secure fundamental rights for religious minorities,” said Institute President Joseph K. Grieboski. “This is not the first time such religiously motivated violence has occurred, and it sadly won’t be the last
 
Appeal to deploy army in Orissa
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Appeal_to_deploy_army_in_Orissa/articleshow/3414534.cms
MUMBAI: Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the archbishop from Mumbai, has appealed to the Centre to deploy the army to the jungles of Orissa where hundreds of Christians have taken refuge after being terrorised by activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The army should protect these Christians, he said.

"It is a shocking and shameful situation ,’’ the cardinal told TOI here on Wednesday while …
 
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