At least nine Christians killed as violence spreads

The violence that began on Christmas Eve continued through December 28, with arson attacks killing at least nine Christians in the state of Orissa. At least 50 churches and institutions have been destroyed or desecrated in the savage attack.

"Seven Christians were killed, Wednesday, December 27 alone in the eastern Indian state," including five who died when "Hindu radicals attacked houses in Barakhama village in Orissa's Kandhamal district" and a seminary in the village, said the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News).

According to the report, two more Christians were killed when police opened fire at a protesting crowd.

An appeal was made by the regional Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, John Dayal, a member of the National Integration Council advising India's government and Reverend P R Paricha of advocacy group All India Christian Council (AICC).

"There is deep apprehension that the State government and the police, despite their lip–service to restore peace and remove the fears of the people, have not shown the alacrity and diligence required in the face of the spreading hate campaign against Christians, coercive and threatening speeches and the violence," Friday's appeal of Christian leaders said.

"It is strange that both the Central and State governments are pleading that police forces cannot enter the deep forest areas because hoodlums have cut trees to block roads. Surely the police have the manpower and machinery to remove such roadblocks and restore the rule of law," they said, adding that India's Central Bureau of Investigation should make arrests and "restore peace" while officials should also give "compensation to all victims."

Meenakshi Ganguly, senior researcher for the Asia division of Human Rights Watch reacted, "The Orissa government should have addressed this problem before it became violent. The authorities are still failing to react quickly enough, and now ordinary people are being attacked."

"The government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the recent violence, but that is not enough," said Ganguly. "Unless there is a vigorous attempt by the national government to investigate such activities promoting religious hate, India's secular identity will be seriously jeopardized."

Anguished over the grave situation in Orissa the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has called for a Prayer Octave in churches and parishes around the country for peace to return in the state.