Archbishop: Kandhamal unrest could not part us from Jesus

Four years after the violence in Kandhamal, Orissa, the archbishop of that state says Christians have only matured and grown in faith.

Kandhamal witnessed unprecedented anti-Christian violence after the murder of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati and four of his aides in August, 2008.

"Our faith has grown since the attacks. All the difficulties could not part us from Jesus," said the archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, John Barwa.

The horrifying violence killed more than 90 people and displaced around 50,000 others.

Although life is back to normal, Archbishop Barwa says a great deal of help is still necessary.

Numerous churches and houses have been rebuilt, but there is "still much to do". The "rebuilding of souls" requires a lot of time, Barwa told Aid to the Church in Need during a visit to its international headquarters in Germany.

Reconstruction of buildings, pastoral care for traumatised people and disoriented youth, as well as the training and further education of priests are presently the Church's top priorities, said Archbishop Barwa.

He thanked ACN for its "prayers and material generosity" and said it helped in carrying out much rebuilding.

The Kandhamal violence saw some 300 churches and places of worship destroyed in addition to the 5,600 houses that were razed to the ground.

While several thousands have returned to their homes, still church sources say plenty are taking shelter in relief camps, fearing social and economic boycott.

Still many cases registered against the miscreants are tried in two fast track courts.

However, the recent passing away of Retd Justice Sarat Chandra Mohapatra will be a setback to the investigation of Saraswati's murder and the violence that followed.

Mohapatra, who had been a judge of Orissa High Court for ten years, died in Bhubaneswar on May 12 following a brief illness.

The one-man judicial commission headed by Mohapatra was appointed on September 3, 2008.

Official sources said Mohapatra was still conducting hearings in Bhubaneswar as well as in Kandhamal and several persons who were to depose before the commission had not yet recorded their statements.

Apparently, the submission of the final inquiry report is also expected to be delayed as the state government now would have to appoint a new person to head the commission.

The commission had only submitted a 28-page 'interim report' to the state government in 2009.

"I know it will take at least two years to complete the inquiry, but the interim report will help the government to make an immediate intervention," Mohapatra had said.

In his report, Mohapatra pointed the reasons for the violence and the steps the government must take to address the locals concerns.