Another Protestant pastor murdered in Kandhamal

Another murder of a Christian pastor is being reported from Orissa's communally sensitive Kandhamal district.

The body of Michael Nayak, a pastor belonging to the Kandhamal Union of Baptist Churches, was found last Wednesday near the village of Mondakia

Before the murder, on July 26, Michael was reportedly met by two of his Hindu tribal friends who later that evening requested for a drive back home.

The next morning, Pramod Mallik, Sarpanch of Rebingia Panchayat, saw Michael's body lying across the road and reported the same to his brothers.

Police has passed off the case as an instance of road accident. This, however, is being refuted by Michael's family who has gathered evidences to prove it was a murder.

"The body was lying in a pit and there was a wound below the ear where blood was oozing out. The body had no other bruises or cuts. Certainly it is not a case of accident, it is a murder" said Surendra Nayak, eldest brother of the deceased.

"The glass of the headlight came out (not even broken) and the gear shifter was damaged, otherwise the bike is in good condition. I refuse to accept the police version that he could not turn his bike at the bend of the road and fell down. In fact even his spectacles were not broken," commented Daniel Nayak, second brother of Michael.

Interestingly, both the friends who had travelled with Michael were not seen during the post mortem or burial.

The incident has come seven months after another Protestant pastor, Saul Pradhan, was found murdered near a pond in Pakala village.

While police attributed Pradhan's death to cold weather, family believes it was part of a hate campaign as the body showed signs of struggle.

"Police in Kandhamal are conniving to make murders look like accidents. The latest murder bore a startling resemblance to Saul Pradhan's case. Pradhan as well was met by two Hindu friends before his murder," said KG Markose, a missionary activist in Kandhamal.

Markose alleged that police and RSS were conspiring against Christian leaders in Kandhamal. "Manoj Pradhan, MLA of G Udayagiri, a convict on bail, is planning and instigating fanatics to attack Christians," he said.

Kandhamal witnessed unprecedented anti-Christian violence after the murder of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati and four of his aides in 2008.The violence killed more than 90 people and displaced around 50,000 others.

Although two fast track courts were set up to achieve quick disposal of cases, trials are now seeing more acquittals than convictions.

On Saturday, fast track court 1 acquitted 39 accused in the violence due to lack of evidence.

While about 29 were arrested on charges on torching houses in Dagapadar village, another 10 were arrested for their alleged involvement in a riot at Kritingia village on August 28, 2008.