Five killed, 18 churches razed during Orissa bandh

Fresh violence in Orissa following the death of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati has once again paralyzed the Christian community who are yet recovering from the December 2007 Christmas attack.

According to Christian sources, the protests carried out by Hindu fanatic groups from Saturday has killed 5 Christians of whom two were burnt alive. “Three others died of asphyxiation after their houses were set on fire last night,” police sources confirmed.

In addition, 18 Churches were burnt and at least 6 Christian institutions and 3 orphanages were ransacked. At least a 100 have been displaced, many fleeing to forests anticipating more attacks.

"Christians are hiding in the forests, the trauma of the Dec '07 riots are being relived. The Women and children are starving there without food and water. Armed radicals are still roaming on the village roads," reported the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).

Churches were attacked in Khurda, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Koraput, Boudh, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur and Kandhamal districts as also in state capital Bhubaneswar, police sources said, adding 40 houses were set ablaze in Phulbani town.

The diabolic attacks were carried out in spite of Churches and Christian organisations issued a press release condemning the naxal attack on Laxmananda's ashram. The Evangelical Fellowship of India, All India Christian Council, GCIC and others extended condolences and reiterated “the Christian community is against any sort of violence and terrorism.”

Rev. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary of the Church of North India (CNI), the dominant protestant denomination in northern India questioned “Why the innocent Christians have to pay the price for someone else’s faults?”

“We condemn the killing, but why should the innocent Christians be penalized. As it is from December 2007 our people have been suffering with no food and shelter,” he lamented.

Pradhan told Christian Today that he had called upon Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, and Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Orrisa, to immediately provide protection to the minority Christians in Phulbani district, as the incidents are happening in the presence of the Police and local administration.

In Bhubaneswar, activists of VHP and Bajrang Dal fanned out in large numbers and enforced the dawn–to–dusk bandh. They were also seen blocking roads and intersections. Schools, colleges, government offices remained closed on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) issued a statement condemning the anti–Christian violence in the state.

Appealing for peace and harmony and urgent intervention of the Central government to check the spreading violence, CBCI said, "We are extremely sorry to find that some organizations have pointed finger at the Christian community in Orissa for the murder of the Swami and his associates.”

The bishops are “sad to note that the extremists are attacking and vandalizing our institutions without any reason,” it said adding: “We are seriously concerned about the safety and security of our frightened people who are innocent and yet find themselves in a very precarious situation.”

There have also been reports that two Bajrang Dal activists were killed while assembling a bomb to be used in the violence against the Christians.

Police claimed Bhupendra and the other deceased Rajeev Mishra were engaged in making a bomb, which exploded.

A detonator, time–bomb, a haul of explosive material and other equipment used in making bombs were seized from the room, police added.

Swami Laxmanananda, a member of VHP’s central advisory committee, and four other people were killed at his Jalespata ashram in Kandhamal Saturday evening after more than 30 suspected Maoist guerrillas opened fire on them.

Laxmananda was actively involved in re–conversion activities and campaigns against the Christians in several states in the country.

He was also accused of instigating the December 2007 Kandhamal violence that displaced over 3000 Christians, burnt down over 80 Churches and killed at least 6.

One of the major factors fuelling tensions between Hindus and Christians in Orissa is the alleged conversion campaign of the Church groups. In spite of the anti–conversion law enacted in 1967, the Christian population in Kandhamal district alone has grown from 6 per cent in 1970 to 27 per cent in 2001.